Campaigns of General Custer in the North-west, and the final surrender of Sitting Bull

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CAMPAIGNS

OF

GENERAL CUSTER

IN THE NORTH-WEST,

AND THE

FINAL SURRENDER

OF

SITTING BULL.

BY

JUDSON ELLIOTT WALKER.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

NEW YORK:

JENKINS & THOMAS, PRINTERS,
8 Spruce Street.

1881.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION. 7

Section L— GENERAL VAN CO UVNOR 9

Section TX.—CUSTEKS LAST BATTLE AGAINST SITTING BULL.. 28

APPENDIX TO THE PRECEDING SECTION 56

Section ILL— SURRENDER OF CROW KING 59

Section IV.— SURRENDER OF SITTING BULL. 66

Section V. — CUS TEKS LAST RALL T 1 H

RETROSPECTIVE 125

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR (Frontispiece) 2

GENERAL CUSTER 28

CRO W KING, CHIEF WARRIOR UNDER SITTING B ULL 59

CHIEF GAUL, THE GREAT RAIDER OF THE SIOUX NATION. . . 62

SITTING BULL, CHIEF WARRIOR OF THE SIOUX NATION. 66

LOUIS, OLDEST SON OF SITTING BULL 104

RAIN-IN- THE-FACE, THE MURDERER OF GENL. CUSTER 122

INTRODUCTION.

The object of this first venture into authorship on the part of one
vrho, until recently, engaged in the engrossing duties of active business
life — has had but little leisure for literary pursuits — will be readily
apparent to the reader on a perusal of its pages. It purports to be a
faithful portrayal of Western life, as experienced by the old settlers at
the isolated posts and military stations on the extreme frontier, to-
gether with a clear representation of facts concerning the treatment of
the Indians of the plains, by the Military and Interior Departments of
the Government

The author, heretofore a stranger to the reading public, deems it not
amiss to introduce himself to his readers by stating that, when the
war of the [Rebellion broke out, in 1861, he was a conductor on the
Missouri Pacific Railroad, having followed that profession since he
was twenty-one years of age.

In 1862, just after the siege of Corinth, a request was made from the
Army of the Tennessee for experienced men and officers to take imme-
diate charge of the immense transportation. The writer proceeded to
Corinth, Miss., and was assigned to duty at Jackson, Tenn., the
lamented Major-General James B. McPherson being his immediate
superior officer up to the siege of Vicksburg, when, in 1863, just be-
fore the surrender of that almost impregnable city, he was captured
by the regular Confederate forces, under E. Kirby Smith, whose head-
quarters were at Shreveport, La. It was soon noised about his
quarters that the prisoner had taken a prominent part in railroad
management, and the transportation connected with the army under
Grant, McPherson and Sherman, and it was decided to banish him so
far out of the way that he would not be able to render any further
service to the Union cause during the war. His sentence was banish-
ment into Old Mexico, not to return during the war, under penalty of
death. The sentence, however, was not read to the writer until he,
with his guard, had reached the banks of the Rio Grande, at old Fort
Duncan, opposite Predas Nadres, in Old Mexico. He was then thrown
across the river among the Greasers, and found himself the only man
in that whole section of country who could speak the American
language.

8

To reach home again — ever the first thought of the exile — two routes
were available, and to decide which of them was the less dangerous,
was an intensely interesting question. The wild Apache Indians at
that time were marauding through that portion of Old Mexico, and
rendered equally hazardous the northern route through New Mexico,
to the seaboard, or the southeasterly to the Gulf of Mexico via Mon-
terey and Matamoras. He, at length, decided to take the latter, the
distance being about four hundred miles to Monterey, and at once set-
out on foot on his forlorn trip, sustained and upheld by the faint
glimmer of a hope that his weary steps, in time, would reach a friendly
haven, from whence he might communicate with his far-off northern
home.

Winding his solitary way through the unbroken chain of the Rocker
Mountains, toward the gates of Monterey, the vision of this home,
with the loving wife and little daughter who there awaited him, shone
clear and resplendent through the darkness of his gloomy situation,
and saved him from despair. Onward he struggled, through the-
dreary mountain fastnesses, whose sombre landscape views were un-
relieved save by here and there a lone palmetto tree, or the rude head-
board of a solitary grave, enclosing the mortal remains of some white
wanderer, who had been slain by the wild Apache Indians, or assassin-
ated by the merciless Mexican banditti. Day by day he neared the
wished-for haven, and at length discerned the welcome gates of Mon-
terey. Arrived at this city, he sought the American Consul, who sent
him to Matamoras, and from thence, by man-of-war, to New Orleans,
where General Banks took charge of him and sent him up the river
to Vicksburg.

Suffice it, for the purposes of this brief history, to say that in 1867
the author proceeded to Kansas and engaged in a general mercantile
business, a portion of the time being engaged in trade with the wild
Kiowa and Comanche tribes of Indians. From that time, until re-
cently, he has been engaged on the extreme frontier, in trading with
army people, immigrants, settlers and Indians.

His opportunities for observation among these classes of people have
been unlimited, and the thought long ago impressed itself upon his
mind, that a work of the present nature, presenting truthful sketches
of Western life and character, would possess intrinsic value in itself,
and be a mine of information to the large body of people in our country,
who have not yet beheld that social wonderland of America. — the great.
West

J. E. W.,

SECTION I.
GENERAL VAN COUVNOR

General Van Oouvnor and a Peace Commissioner Subju-
gating the Wild Kiowas and Comanches near the.
Wichita Mountains.

CHAPTEE L

An Indian Agency. — Mr. Jonathan Broadbrim assumes the dvr
ties as Indian Agent, and introduces himself to theleading war
chiefs.

One of the most interesting of the oft-recurring farces
that characterize the dealings of the government with the
untutored savages, is the so-called Peace Commission. As
a faithful picture of the frequent " pow-wow," or peace cere-
mony — "Big Talkee" as the Indians style it in their graphic
language — is adduced the following truthful colloquy, that
occurred at the Washita River Indian Agency, between Jon-
athan Broadbrim, Agent of the Comanches and Kiowas, on
the part of the Government, and Satanta, Lone Wolf, and
Kickingbird, leading chiefs of the Kiowa tribes. The con-
versation, as carried on through an interpreter, is given
almost verbatim, and furnishes a fair illustration of the pe-
culiar mode of dealing with the Indians, adopted by the
Government, together with the usual result of such treat-
ment :

A COLLOQUY AT A KIOWA AGENCY.

Agent. Friends, I am here to-day to hear your requests,
to listen to your complaints, and to devise means for your
welfare.

Satanta. How ; how ; big white chief, how ? Heap-o'-
talkee to-day. Heap-o'-talkee and no good. Heap-o'-talkee>

i

10 SUBJUGATING

me to-day. White folks talkee heap and no good. Me sava,
me heap-o'-sava, and no good.

Agent. Well, Satanta, I have been sent here by the
United States Government, to see if aDything can be done
for you and your tribes in the way of having all of you set-
tle on a reservation of your own, such as may be allotted
to you by our Government. We would like to have you
settle down with your people, and take hold of farming and
raising stock ; at the same time have your children go to
school.

Satanta. How much land and how many cattle will you
give us, and not much talkee about it ?

Agent. I am instructed to say that we will build good
school-houses, and also as many houses as may be needed
for all of your families to live in. We will set aside a quan-
tity of land for your people to live on, and will furnish
farming tools, and all the corn and potatoes they may want
to plant, and will send them a good farmer to show them
how.

Satanta. Where is the land you talkee so much about ?
We want to know where it is ?

Agent We will select the farms for your tribes up and
•down this valley, where you will have plenty of water
and wood, and most, an excellent place to shelter your stock
in the winter.

Satanta. How is it that you white folks own this land ?
We have always lived here and made our hunting-grounds
up and down the Washita, and no one ever disturbed us
until you pale-faces came here with your soldiers. The
land is all ours, and always has been.

Agent. We claim the lands all around here by our pur-
chase ; but we will set aside as much as you want for your
tribes. I would like to have you and your people talk the
matter over among yourselves, and I earnestly hope we can
make some arrangement so that the result will be greatly to
your interest and improve the future welfare of your peo-
ple, and save a great deal of trouble and expense to our
Oovernment, as well as for yourselves. I would like to hear
your views, and want to hear your chiefs and warriors talk.

THE HOSTILES. 11

Satanta. I heard the great father at Washington wanted
me to come here and have a big talkee with his agent. You
pale-faces say you always want peace. You send your sol-
diers here to fight and make peace. My brave warriors
fight, and your soldiers fight; and I tell you one thing now,
that as long as you send your soldiers here to fight, you
may expect my braves to fight back again. My braves are
all young men, and will keep a-fighting the pale-faces until
they keep away from our hunting-grounds.

Agent But, Satanta, we propose to allow your people to
hunt all they want to. We don't want to disturb your
hunting-grounds.

Satanta. Only a little while ago— may-be-so-four-years,
may-be-so-six-years — we lived on the plains in Kansas, and
my people were all well-to-do-and-a-heap-o'-good-all-the-
time. We had a heap-o'-buffalo-and-antelope to hunt and
kill, and make-a-heap-o'-meat for our squaws and papooses.
We had a-heap-o'-good times. Heap-o'-good-pale-faced-men
come out to us and made heap-o' -good-agents.

Agent. We think we send you good men for your agents
now. What is the matter with them ?

Satanta. In those good old days the pale-faced agents
were good. Our goods and clothing were brought to us
every spring and fall on a-heap -big- wagons-all- the-time-
with-heap-big-horses. We had a-heap-o'-buffalo-robes for
the swap-chief, and our squaws and papooses had plenty
of blankets, calico, sugar, and coffee. All was heap good.
They all the time had a-heap-o'-good clothes to wear, and-a-
heap-o'-good things to eat. My braves, squaws and papooses
heap-o'-good all the time. Young men hunt buffalo, and
squaws make-a-heap-good-buffalo-robes, and-make-a-heap-
o'-good-swap.

Agent. I see no reason why you cannot do the same now.
We try to send good men for agents, and appoint a good
class of teachers for you. If there is anything wrong I
want to know it, and will try to make it right.

Satanta. May-be-so-two-years, may-be-so-four-years-ago,
the white man has cared nothing about the treaties he has
signed with us. The pale-faces have acted as if they never

12 SUBJUGATING

had signed any treaty at all. Our goods and clothing, that
ought to have been here last October, are not here yet, and
it is now in the moon of-two-moons (February).

Agent. Tour annuity goods are now on the way, and, I
think, will be here in a very few days.

Satanta. It was just the same slow way last year and the
year before ; our squaws and papooses would suffer to-day,
only my young braves are able to find a few buffalo, which
gives them meat to keep them frdm being hungry, and robes,
to cover their naked bodies. The pale-faces have advanced
on the red-man, and driven the buffalo and antelope away,,
so that our young men can hardly find enough meat to feed
our squaws and papooses.

Agent. I think there is plenty of pork, bacon, and corned
beef in the storehouse. It really seems to me there is no
need of your people going hungry.

Satanta. No good ; no good ; no like 'em. Pale-face-eat-
'em-a-heap — red-man-no-eat-'em. No good. Bed-man and
squaws like heap-o'-buffalo-and-antelope-full-o' -blood. The
white man has all the time been talkee-peace-peace-heap-o'-
talkee-heap-o'-talkee-and-no-peace. I tell you now there
will be no peace until the white man does as he agrees, and
when he signs a treaty with our tribes he must make his.
word good.

Agent I think there will be no trouble about that. I
think we can make a treaty that will be satisfactory to all
parties.

Satanta We have been driven four hundred miles from
our hunting-grounds in Kansas and we have no peace yet.
It looks to me as if you might go up and help that wagon
train along that has been on the road all winter, trying to
get here. You smart pale-faced men know a-heap-better to
put oxen on wagons in the winter when such-a-big-snow on
the ground. Why not put mules and horses on the wagons
and get here sometime before the grass grows in the spring?
Bad men. No good. Pale-face-man-no-caree. No good.
Bad-medicine-bad-medicine-heap-o'-bad.

Agent I hope you know, Satanta, that we all have more
or less trouble in moving over the plains in the winter, and
when there is snow on the ground.

THE HOSTILES. 13

Satanta. I have had hard work to keep my young men
from going out to meet those wagons and killing, the oxen
for beef, and taking the goods out of the wagons and giving
them to the squaws and papooses, and then burn the wagons
to make a hot fire and make hot coffee and hot tea and roast
the oxen for a heap-o'-good-supper for Kiowas.

Agent. Then we would have to send our soldiers out after
you. That kind of conduct is just what makes our soldiers
fight you.

Satanta. Then my braves will fight back again. My braves
were made to fight your soldiers, and before we make any
more treaties with you pale-faces, you must have your
wagon men bring our goods here in better time, and you
must keep the old treaties good. The old treaties are good
enough for the red-man and the squaws and papooses. All
we want is you pale-faces to keep them good and have less
talkee about it, and you must stop your young men from
killing our buffalo and antelope for fun.

Agent. I will talk this matter over with my people and see
what can be done. I think myself they ought to stop killing
the buffalo for fun. I think you are justified in that com-
plaint, and I will give it my attention.

Satanta. You have driven us from our homes and hunting-
grounds in Kansas, you may drive us from here away across
the staked plains into old Mexico ; your soldiers may fight
my braves and your big general may put irons all over me
again, but the big red chiefs will always talkee, heap-o'-
talkee, and our brave warriors will always fight, until the
pale-faces do as they agree when they sign a treaty with us.

Agent. I will confess that I am very sorry such delays
have occurred in shipping your supplies in here, and I am
satisfied it has been quite a serious annoyance to you and
your people, as well as to ourselves, and I will make it my
business to report these delays to the proper parties, and
will in the future have your supplies shipped in better
time. I will further state that we will hereafter send men
who will see that your wants are more promptly and prop-
erly cared for. We think the delay has been on account of
the bad weather and the inactivity of the freighters, and the

14 SUBJUGATING

blame should by no means be placed upon the agent. Trr e
are ready and willing to do anything that is consistent and
just to make good to you and your people any damages that
have occurred. I would like to have you talk with your
young men about farming and raising cattle and sheep, and
to-morrow I will meet you here with two more white broth-
ers, and we will have another good talk.

Satanta. It is no use to bring any more pale-faces here
to talk. What we want is white men to do as they agree.
My brave warriors will fight and you may send your dog
soldiers here to fight them, and your big general can put
irons all over my body again, and then he can go back and
tell all the pale-faces you have got that the red- man of the
plains will never, never surrender, but will always fight un-
til the great father at Washington makes his pale-faces do
as they agree. I am the big chief of the Kiowa tribes, but
I am only one man, and I want my young chiefs and war-
riors to say something. Lone Wolf and Kickingbird are the
chief warriors in the Kiowa tribes, and I want them to make
their own talk. They can talkee all they please.

Lone Wolf. I have but little to say. I am a poor red-man,
with nothing but my squaw and papoose and my three
ponies. The pale-faced men have-a-bijg-heap-of-everything.
The red-man can never learn as much as the white knows.
I would like to have our people settle down here where the
water runs clear and the timber grows tall. I think our
women, would raise corn and potatoes and we would have
our children go to school.

Agent That is just what we want to have them do, and we
will do all we can to assist them.

Lone Wdf. If your white people will do what is right and
have good hearts for us, I think our tribes will do well for
you. I have been on the war-path for thirty years and am
tired of it. The white people have got more soldiers than
we have, and I know it. We must give up the war-path
sooner or later, but we must have good treatment and the
pale-faces must stay away from our hunting-grounds and
let our buffalo and antelope grow as they always did.

Agent. If your people will settle on a reservation they
will have plenty of cattle and will not need any buffalo.

THE HOSTILES. 15

*

: Lone Wolf. The buffalo and antelope were put on the
grass for the red-man, and we must have them. If the great
father at Washington will keep his pale-face soldiers away
from us, I will try and have our people settle on farms and
raise corn, potatoes, oxen and sheep and a heap-o'-cows. I
would like to hear what Kickingbird has to say. He is a
brave young warrior and-a-heap-good-young-chief. He is a
heap-big-fighter with the pale-faces when they come for our
buffalo and antelope.

Agent. We would all like to hear from you, Kickingbird.
.What have you to say ? I think you ought to have a good
influence with your people.

Kickingbird. I am a brave young chief in the Kiowa tribes.
I have nothing but my squaw and papoose and three ponies.
I want to live with my people and look at them and see them
do well. We have been fought by your big generals a heap-
o'-times and are not dead yet, and we don't want to fight any
more. We want the white soldiers to stay away from us,
and we will take care of ourselves. I want to go to Wash-
ington and have a big talkee-a-heap-big-a-talkee with the
great father. I want him to give me some cattle and sheep.
I want to raise oxen, cows, and hogs and sheep, and hire
our young men to make corn and potatoes.

Agent. That is just what we want to have you do, Kick-
ingbird, and we will do all we can to help you along. I
think you would make a good farmer.

Kickingbird. I think I can make a heap good farmer. My
squaw can live like a white woman, and my papoose must
go to school and learn to read and write and come home and
learn the other children, like the white folks do. But we are
never going to do all this while your pale-faces stay around
us and kill our buffalo for fun. They must stay away and
let our braves alone and stop killing the buffalo and ante-
lope, and then we will believe the white man will do what
is right and the Kiowas will all be good people.

Agent I will do the best I can to have you go to Wash-
ington, where you can talk with the great father. I will do
all I can to help you get cattle and sheep and be a good
farmer. We will build you good houses for your people to

16 SUBJUGATING

live in, and school-houses for your children, and send you a
good teacher. Our soldiers will not disturb you as long as
you keep your young men at home and are a good law-
abiding people.

Kickingbird. All is good. Heap good. Heap-o'-good-
talkee. You-pale-face-talkee-a-heap-o'-good. All-time- heap-
good. May-be-so-mee-yan-na-me-come-and-a-heap-o'-talkee-
more-a-heap-o'-good. Good-bye. Good-bye.

[All shake hands.

CHAPTEE H.

GENERAL VAN COUVNOR.
Galled upon to assist — An unexpected drama.

Quite different was the scene enacted on the following day
At the military post in the vicinity. While Satanta and
his associate chiefs were engaged in " peace talk " with the
unsuspecting agent, the wily warriors of the tribe had felt
it a befitting occasion to steal forth on a raiding expedition,
in which they securely bagged the mules of the post quar-
termaster's department. At the same time news was re-
ceived at the post that the same warriors, in a raid into
Texas, had killed a worthy settler, and carried off his wife
and children as prisoners, as is the custom of the Kiowas,
expecting a liberal ransom for their surrender. The scene
opens with the sentinels of the post, who proclaim the
usual hourly "AWs well" Agent Broadbrim, on hearing of
the occurrence, repairs in haste to the military headquarters
in the interests of peace.

The Indian attack, as is usual with them, was made at
daybreak, as the herd was being driven out to grass. The
herder, Squills, rushes to the post nearest the carrol, to give
the alarm. The sentry is found asleep at his post, but
awakes to the emergency of the case, in time to arouse the
corporal of the relief guard.

Post No. 2, Sentinel. Twelve o'clock, and all is well. Post
No. 1.

THE HO8TILE8. 17

Post No. 2. Twelve o'clock, and all is well. Post No. 2.

Post No. 3. Twelve o'clock, and all is well. Post No. 3.

Herder [excited]. Corporal of the guard ! Corporal of the
guard ! Get out here ! The Indians are running off the
mules ! Get out here ! All the mules are captured by the
Indians !

Corporal. Hallo, Squills ! what's the matter with the
mules? Wha-wha- what's the matter, anyway ? Say ! See
here, old pard ; don't for heaven's sake report me for being
asleep !

Squills. Oh, that's all right, old pard. You know I'm all
O. K. on that score. We'll all keep mum. You know mum
is the word with us old veterans.

Corporal. Yes, you know how it is yourself, old pard. I'll
run up to headquarters and report Blast the dirty red-
skins, I wish they would make their steal on us in the day^
time, when we are awake. This hunting after Injuns at mid^
night is no good joke for soldiers. [Corporal of the guard
hastens to the commandants quarters to give the alarm.

General. Hallo ! Who is there ? What do you want ?

Corporal. General, the Indians have made a raid on the
mule corral, and run off the herd, just as it was going out
to graze.

General. How do you know they were Indians. Do you
know certainly whether they were Indians or white men ?
Ring that bell for my orderly.

Corporal. All I know, General, is what the herder said.
He called the guard, and said the Indians had captured the
herd.

General. Do you know, Corporal, whether the herder was
awake or asleep when this happened ?

Corporal. He was certainly awake, General, when he
called me.

General. Orderly! [Orderly appears.] Call the Drum-
Major, and have him beat the long-roll, and get my field
horse and orderly here quick. [Exit Orderly.] Corporal,
go and call the Indian scouts, and have them mounted at
once. [Exit Corporal.

18 SUBJUGATING

Re-enter Orderly.

Orderly. General, your field horse and orderly are wait-
ing at the door.

General. I will leave matters with you for a while, adju-
tant. [Exit General.

Enter Mr. Broadbrim.

Adjutant Good morning, Mr. Broadbrim. Be seated, sir.
We had a little raid on our mules last night. I thought
those Indians acted and talked like peace at your council
yesterday.

Mr. B. I really thought so myself. Did thee think they
would act in this manner on such short notice ?

Adjutant. Well, I will tell you, Mr. Broadbrim, we must
expect more or less of this kind of trouble. Those wild,
thieving fellows have never been punished very severely yet.

Mr. B. Don't thee think we can make peace without fight-
ing? You know it is bad to bring war upon ourselves.
Don't thee think so ?

Adjutant. Yes, I know war is bad : but we must give those
fellows a good, sound thrashing, and teach them to behave
themselves.

Mr. B. Dost thee think the General will have to fight
them to-day ?

Adjutant. He will surely give them a fight if he catches
them. That is just what he intends to do.

Mr. B. I am really sorry ; I thought I would be able to
arrange some kind of terms for peace, in a day or two.
[Rising to go.] I will be over again, and see what will have
to be done. [Exit.

Enter Captain Winecoop, officer of the day. •

Adjutant. Well, Captain Winecoop, how is the garrison
this morning ? All quiet since the raid on the mules ?

Capt. TV. Well, if I don't think that was the finest piece
of strategy that I have seen in a long time. It was a most
successful game played on the part of the red-skins.

Adjutant. What was it, Captain? let us hear.

Capt. W. Why, don't you know the Broadbrim agent held

THE HOSTTLES. 19

a sort of a peace council yesterday, over oh the Washita
Biver, and all the while he was entertaining them, and mak-
ing propositions for peace with old Satanta, their young
warriors were getting ready to steal the mules.

Adjutant I am satisfied in my own mind, and I think all
of our military men are of the same opinion, that we never
will have any peace until we give those warriors & good
whipping, and make them stay on a reservation, and take
their ponies away from them.

Capt. W. That is just what we have got to do. That is
General Van Couvner's plan, and he openly and boldly says
so. [Enter Mb. Littlejohn, a citizen of Texas.] Be seated,
sir ; what is the news down in Texas ?

Mr. L. We have had plenty of news down thar ; an' most
horrid news it is for us citizens: The young Kiowas war
down thar yesterday, mounted on theer fleetest ponies, an'
run off a lot uv fine blooded horses, an' killed one honest
settler, an' tuk his wife an' two children, an' tied all three
of 'em on a mule tha'd stole uv nabor Peppersnapps, an'
then put 'em 'tween two big buck Injuns, who'd whip the mule
first from one side an' then from tuther, an' kep' the mule a
kickin', an' a snortin', an' a howlin' as if the hid Texas cav-
alry wer' arter 'em. They kep' up a big laugh an' a hollerin'
all the while, an' thur fleet ponies was a runnin' thur best
speed, an' I can tell yer, Capt'in, 'twas a horrid sight to
look on-to.

Adjutant. It seems as though the Indians selected yester-
day and last night to make their raid. They run off sixty-
five mules from our herd last night, and the General is out
after them now. You can see him when he returns, and he
will render you and your citizens in Texas all the assistance
in his power.

Mr. L. [rising to go.] I cen tell yer, Mr. Capt'in, if sum-
thin' ain't done to keep them ar savages away from our set-
tlers in Texas, we'll turn our Bangers on-to 'em with our
shot-guns, and we'll pepper 'em clean through the Brazos tu
the Gulf of Mexico, an' will niver let one on 'em cum back
here alive ; now you may 'pend on thai Good-bye ; I'll
see the Gin'ral when he comes. [Exit Mb. L.

20 SUBJUGATING

Enter General.

Adjutant Well, General, what success?

General. Not any success ; the pesky red-skins had too
much the start of us.

Adjutant. A citizen from Texas came in to-day and reported
the Kiowas had been down there and killed one man and
captured his wife and two children, and tied them on a
mule, and forced it to run and keep up with their fleet
ponies, and also stole a lot of fine blooded horses.

General. I heard they had made a raid there. The fact
is, the whole Kiowa tribes have got to be surrounded, and
the leading chiefs and warriors have got to be whipped.
They may have peace councils, and smooth talk, and build
school-houses ; but I can tell them the warriors have got
to be made to stay on their reservations, and stop this mur-
dering and horse-stealing. [Enfer Mr. Broadbrim.] Good
morning, Mr. Broadbrim. How are your pet Indians pro-
gressing in the way of farming and going to school ?

Mr. B. Well, I don't know why we can't make a complete
success of it. The leading chiefs were at the council yester-
day, and expressed a very strong desire to settle on farms
and have their children go to school.

General Did you hear about the raid they made in Texas
yesterday ?

Mr. B. Yes, sir. I hardly know what to do in the prem-
ises. Could thee make some suggestions in the case ?

General. Yes, sir ; when my cavalry returns I will go out
and surround the whole tribe, and make them surrender
that woman and her two children, or else whip them right
then and there, on the ground.

Mr. B. But you know it would be cruel for thee to bring
a on a war !

General. We either want to do that, or take six leading
chiefs and hold them as hostages, and then, if they refuse
to surrender the captives, we will hang three of the chiefs,
and make the warriors select which three they prefer to
have hung. That is my way of handling Indians when they
commence murdering men and capturing women and chil-
dren.

THE HOSTTLES. 21

Mr. B. But, G-eneral, I believe I can persuade them to
bring in the captives for a small sum of money, or some
goods in lieu thereof.

General. You may possibly ransom them for a good round
price ; but it is a dangerous policy to pursue. My plan is,
subjugation by whipping them — that is, if they persist in
going on the war-path.

Mr. B. I will talk with the three leading chiefs when they
come for rations, and see what can be done.

[Exit Mr. Broadbrim.

Enter General's Wife.

Wife. What pleases you, my dear ? How is it that you
are so good-natured all at once ? Have the Kiowas done
something to please you ?

General. No ; but their school-teacher has. He is begin-
ning to teach school among them before we can stop them
from murdering and horse-stealing.

Adjutant [laughingly]. I think Mr. Broadbrim is a good
man, and means all for the best ; and will, in the outcome,
make a very good Indian agent.

Wife. Why, yes ; you know he has been here but a few
weeks, and has had very little opportunity to get acquainted
with them. You officers that have been in the service here
for years, have learned their ways, and know better how to
manage them.

General. I think he is making splendid progress with his
new acquaintances. As Governor Wise would say, " I don't
think he has been properly introduced." While he was
introducing himself among the leading war chiefs at the
council, the young .warriors were on one of their regular
tours of rapine and murder. Their system of brigandage has
been tolerated too long, and they must be made to desist.
The fact is, I will have to take the cavalry and give them a
good thrashing.

Enter Mr. Broadbrim.

Mr. B. General, Satanta, Lone Wolf, and Kickingbird are
at the agency, for the purpose of drawing their rations, and
I think it will be well to make them a proposition to bring

22 • subj

SUBJUGATING

in that woman and her two children they hold as cap-
tives ; also, to bring in those mules. What dost thee think
about it ?

General. All the proposition you want to make to them
is, that they will get no more rations for themselves nor
their tribes, and they may look for a fight at any time, if
they refuse to surrender that woman and her children, and
drive back those mules they stole. Tell them you will with-
hold their rations until they comply with your demands.
You never want to propose to the Indians ; you must always
make a formal demand, and then make them comply. That
is the easiest and the quickest way to settle matters with
them.

Mr. B. Dost thee think, General, I had better have the
leading chiefs come in and talk with thee ? Dost thee think
thee can have a better impression upon their untutored
minds ?

General. We don't want to simply make an impression, we
must make them comply with every demand that we may be
pleased to make upon them. That policy rigidly enforced
will soon settle the Indian troubles. They never will want
whipping but once, you may depend.

Mr. B. All right. I will go and invite the chiefs here, to
confer with thee. [Exit

General. Now we shall have a renewal of the farce. But
I, for one, am resolved upon stern measures to force com-
plete compliance on the part of the Indians with our de-
mands.

"*

THE HOSTILES. 23

CHAPTEE IIL

General Van Couvnor's Headquarters — Conference with leading

Warriors — The Denouement

Agent Broadbrim, the conscientious devotee of peace
measures, was so far successful in his mission of good will
toward the recreant savages as to induce three influential
chiefs, Ten Bears, White Bear and Dogtail, to return with
him and hold a conference at the military headquarters with
the commandant of the post. As usual, the old chiefs place
the blame upon the young warriors, whom they claim they
cannot control, and deny all responsibility in an affair that
they regret only in so far as it may imperil the certainty of
their rations. The matter ends with a display of force on
the part of the military, and the subsequent ransom of the
unhappy captives, who are restored unharmed to their
friends. The conference is opened in the usual way by the
agents, the interpreter being present to explain to each
party the (to them) unknown language of the other.

Mr. B. General, I have prevailed upon these three chiefs
to come and have a talk with thee in regard to those cap-
tives and stolen mules.

Ten Bears. We did not know our young men were going
to steal mules.

White Bear. I was at the big talkee on the Washita. I
didn't know our young men were going out. They have
Acted very bad, and we big chiefs don't like it.

General. Well, Dogtail, what can you say for yourself?
Can you explain how it is that your young men go out and
murder and steal mules and horses ?

Dogtail. We can't always keep our young men at home.
Sometimes they act bad and we can't help it. The white
men kill our buffalo and antelope, and then our warriors go
off and act bad, and we can't help it.

General. Will you bring in that woman and her two chil-
dren all safe in ten days ?

Dogtail. May-be-so. If you make our hearts good I think
ure can. Our hearts must be made good.

24 SUBJUGATING

Mr. B. I think we can make your hearts good if you will
bring them in without any trouble.

General. If you will make your men bring in that woman
and her two children and those stolen mules and horses
within ten days I will keep my cavalry away from your
tribes. If they are not here in ten days I will make a fight
for them. Now do you understand what I say ?

Dogtail. I think we can get them. You must make our
hearts glad when we do. May-be-so-a-heap-good. Heap-
good-big-white-chief.

General. I tell you, Mr. Broadbrim, they are a hard set.
There is one thing that ought to be done. The proper
authorities should restrain the pleasure-hunters from killing
the buffalo for mere sport. Whenever we have trouble with
any of the tribes they invariably bring up that excuse.
Some action ought to be taken, and I think it comes within
the compass of your office.

Mr. B. I hope we will be able to manage them without
any trouble. As the last resort, General, I will have to send
for thee and thy cavalry. It may produce a good effect.

General. We have but one policy to pursue, and that is to
stand firm. I think by stopping their rations we will gain
our point. However, if you want my troops to help at any
time, let me know. I am at your service with my whole
command.

Mr. B. Thanks, General. If I need your services I will
send a courier. Good day. [Exit Mr. B. and Indians. An
hour later a Courier arrives.

Courier. Here is a request from Mr. Broadbrim. He wants
you to send troops at once.

General. Just as I expected. He says he wants troops to
protect the public property. Yes, I see. Orderly, call
Captain Beardslee. Adjutant, make an order to Captain
Beardslee to report with his troop to Mr. Broadbrim at the
Indian Agency. He is not to use force of arms only to pro-
tect the lives of persons and property.

Enter Captain Beardslee.

Captain, move your troop quietly over to the agency, and
use your best judgment in rendering the agent such protec-

THE HOSTiLES. 25

tion as he may require. The object of this move is to secure
a surrender of that woman and her two children.

Capt B. Very well, General ; good day. [Exit.

General. I anticipate some trouble before we get hold of
those captives. Now, if neighbor Broadbrim will only stand
firm, and not weaken himself into a ransom, we will recover
that woman and her children. It is a good plan to send
Beardslee there with his troop.

Enter the General's Wife.

Wife. I noticed a troop of cavalry moving out towards
the Indian camp. Is there anything the matter with the
warriors ?

General. No, there is no outbreak. We are trying to re-
cover that Texas woman and her children. They have them
over at the agency, and neighbor Broadbrim expressed some
fears in regard to the safety of property, and I ordered out
a troop of cavalry.

Wife [laughingly]. Why in the world don't you go over
yourself ? Why do you leave neighbor Broadbrim to take
hold of such an important matter ? You know how ugly
those wild fellows are when they are about to surrender
anything they have once captured. Come, go along over,
and I will go with you. I want to seo those poor captives.

General. I have no objections to going over ; but I was
rather inclined to think that neighbor Broadbrim would pre-
fer to make his own arrangements concerning the captives.

Wife. Well, you can go over with me. .1 want to see if
that woman and her children are in want of anything to
make them comfortable. The ladies in the garrison are
prepared to assist in making clothing, and to help take care
of them.

[The General and his Wife repair to the Indian Agency
Buildings, and witness the close of the f (Mowing conference be-
tween Agent Broadbrim and the chiefs — the conversation, as
usual, being carried on through the interpreter.']

Mr. B. [to Indians.] Be seated, and let us hear what thee
has to say. Are thee well ? Dost thee feel tired ?

3 Chiefs [each one gives a grunt, and says,] How, how ?

26 SUBJUGATING

Mr. B. Well, what has thee to say about those captives
and mules ?

Dog Tail. Well, Mr. Calico Chief, we have got your Texas
squaw and her papooses for you. Now what are you going
to do to make our hearts glad ?

Mr. B. Thee can deliver the captives to Captain Beards-
lee, who will take good care of them, and I will issue thee
thy rations.

Dog Tail. We want money, blankets, and calico; our
hearts will then be-a-heap-good.

Mr. B. I have no money for you, and I must have the wo-
man and children. How about the mules you promised to
•bring in?

Dog Tail We have got most all the mules. Our young
men sold only a few of them. We want twelve hundred
dollars for Texas squaw and her papooses, and the mules.
May-be-so-thirty-may-be-so-forty-mules. Braves sold some.

Mr. B. I want that woman and her two children at once.
Captain Beardslee will proceed to surround your tribe, un-
less thee comply with my request instanter. Subito, in-
stanter.

Dog Tail. I want to have a-heap-big-talkee with the other
big chief, and will come in men-yan-na and let you know.

Mr. B. Captain Beardslee, will thee please take such
steps as will secure possession of those captives at once ? I
shall not trifle any longer.

Capt B. Orderly, sound the bugle for the troop to dis-
mount and get in* position.

[Bugler sounds the call Indians and squaws run to rear of
Agent's office. Troop files in, Captain Beabdslee at the head,
with drawn sabre. Indians string their bows in great exciter
merit. Dog Tail manifests great anger. Bloodshed seems immi-
nent.

Mr. B. Now I demand those captives at once.

Capt. B. We will not dilly-dally one moment. Give us
the captives at once, or I will take every one of you to the
guard-house. Every one of you unstring your bows, and
keep your arrows in the quivers.

[The General enters, with Ms Wife on his arm. His presence 9
in a measure, quiets the disturbance. The captives are brought

THE HOSTILES. 27

forward, and received kindly by the General's Wife, who leads
them away. Indians grunt and unstring their bows. Dog Tail
shakes hands heartily with the General.]

Dog Tail. Big white chief heap good. Heap-a-good-chuck-
Calico- chief -no-good, no-good. Heap-bad-medicine.

Mr. B. Now I want the mules your young men run off the
other night.

Dog Tail. May-be-so-me-yan-na-me-bring-a-heap-o'-mules.
Young men got 'em on the grass. May-be-so-one-day-may-
be-so-two-days-me-come, heap-o'-mides.

Mr. B. Captain Beardslee will hold six of thy men until
thee make thy young men bring in the mules.

Dog Tail. We want six hundred dollars in money, and
then we will bring in the mules. We have made your hearts
glad with the white squaw and papooses, and now you
must make our hearts glad with money We will bring
the mules to-morrow, sure, and all the time be good In-
dians, if you will give us six hundred dollars. I don't want
it all myself. Squaws and papooses get it to swap for
blankets, calico, sugar, and coffee.

Mr. B. What say thee, General, in regard to this demand
from Dog Tail ? Will thee be satisfied ?

General I have no objections to giving them something for
their services in helping us to get our mules back. I think
it will be well enough to give it to them when they return
the mules. I am of the same opinion now that I have
always entertained — it is a very bad policy to pursue. It
only helps to perpetuate the ransom-traffic between our-
selves and the wild tribes.

Mr. B. Well, Dog Tail, you have been a very good Indian
to-day, and I will give each of you three chiefs two hundred
dollars if you will bring in those mules. I have no money,
but will give you orders on the trader, and he will let you
have what you want. Now you must bring the mules in ten
days.

Dog Tail. Oh, yes ; me have my young men bring in heap-o'-
mules. Me-give-'em-to-big- white-chief. Heap-good-mules-
and-heap-o'-good-big-white-chief. Good-bye, good-bye.

[Shakes hands all around.

28 SUBJUGATING

SECTION II.

OTJSTEE'S LAST BATTLE AGAINST

SITTING BULL.

CHAPTEE L

The Record j rom 1868.

With the incidents of the memorable Indian fight of June
25th, 1876, between Lieut. -Colonel G. A. Custer, with five
companies of the 7th Cavalry, and Sitting Bull, the invinci-
ble chief of the lawless hordes of hostile Indians who infest
the north-west plains, the world is already familiar. Scarcely
yet can the American people contemplate with calmness the
wholesale butchery of a brave officer of the cavalry service, to-
gether with nearly three hundred men of his command. The
gallant struggle of the doomed battalion, enclosed in that
living cordon of wild and yelling savages, from which none
escaped to tell the story of their fate, is without parallel in
the history of the western world.

The tale of their dashing onset, their reckless charge into
overwhelming numbers of merciless foes, their glorious stand
when hope was gone, their valorous defense, and death, sub-
limely courted in the charge and on the skirmish line, has been
told and re-told. Never, while the world stands, will be forgot-
ten the tragic fate of the chivalrous three hundred, who fell
with their gallant leader on that bloody field of unequal
strife. History has recorded imperishably the grandeur of
their final charge. Their dauntless death is celebrated in
song and story. Their names are household words in every
home, and their memory is embalmed forever in the grateful
admiration of their countrymen.

But of the minor events that form the links in the length-

major-general george a. custer.

THE HOSTILES. 29

ened chain of circumstances that led to the final result, and
brought about the bloody catastrophe, little is known to the
general public. To present these minor facts in concise
form is the object of these pages. To that end we shall state
succinctly : First. The operating causes that led to the war
with the Sioux and their allies, and which culminated in the
sending out by the Government of the expedition of 1876 ;
and secondly, the occurrences by which Lieutenant-Colonel
G. A. Custer incurred the bitter enmity of the Indian war-
rior Rain-in-the-Face — who slew him on his final battle-field
— and which led to the outpouring of ostensibly peaceful
bands of Agency Indians, to join the hostiles in their march
to intercept the white warriors.

It is a fact not to be gainsaid that open hostilities on the
part of the Sioux were provoked by the violation, on the part
of the Government, of the treaty of 1868, by the stipulations
of which the territory of the Black Hills and adjacent re-
gion were declared an inviolable part of the Indian reserva-
tion, sacred to their use, and not to be trespassed upon by
white men. Forts Reno and Kearney were abandoned, and
the whole country given up to Sitting Bull, the leader of
the scattered but powerful bands of hostiles who infested the
western plains.

Three years later (in 1871) it was adjudged expedient by
the Government to break the provisions of the treaty of 1868.
The officials of the Northern Pacific Railroad, then in pro-
cess of construction across the continent, in the spring of
1871, applied to the Government authorities at Washington
for military protection and escort for a surveying party to
be sent out during the summer of that year to explore and
mark out the unsurveyed portion of the projected road — a
line extending westward from the Missouri River in Dakota
to the interior of Montana, west of the Yellowstone River.
Authority was duly granted : the rights of the Indians being
deemed of minor importance in the grand scheme of opening
up the vast and fertile fields of the new north-west to rail-
road enterprise, with its attendant train of settlers.

The expedition, conducted by engineers of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, and escorted by United States troops, left

30 SUBJUGATING

Fort Rice in June, 1871, and completed its mission in safety
— no Indians molesting them, or interfering in any way with
their progress.

Again, on July 25th, 1872, a similar expedition left Fort
Rice, and returned in October, 1872, having successfully ac-
complished the exploration and survey of a route through
Yellowstone Valley, reaching to the river of that name, and
to the mouth of Powder River.

This party encountered many hostile Indians, and their
return march is described as a series of skirmishes.

When near Fort Rice, on their return, Lieutenant Adair,
of the 22d Infantry, and Lieutenant Crosby, of the 17th In-
fantry, were killed — the latter being shot, scalped, and other-
wise mutilated — by an Indian called " the Gaul," a notorious
criminal and consumer of Cheyenne Agency rations. This
murderer has since surrendered himself to the military au-
thorities, and is now a pensioner, as before, upon the boun-
ty of the Government.

In July, 1873, a third expedition left Fort Rice on a simi-
lar mission — the engineers and surveyors of the N. P. R. R.,
under the direction of General Rosser, the troops, compris-
ing the escort, under command of General Stanley, and ac-
companied by Lieutenant-Colonel Custer with the 7 th Cav-
alry Regiment. The force consisted of about 1,700 men —
cavalry, infantry, a battery of artillery, and a detachment of
Indian scouts.

This party encountered hostile Indians near the Yellow-
stone, and on August 4th, several companies of the 7th Cav-
alry, under Custer, had a sharp engagement with a body of
Sioux, under Sitting Bull, resulting in the loss of one sol-
dier, surprised at a spring, the wounding of Lieutenant Bra-
den, and the murder of Dr. Houtzinger, veterinary surgeon,
and Mr. Baliran, sutler of the 7th Cavalry — they being un-
armed, detached from the main body, and unsuspicious of
danger.

The expedition returned to Fort Rice during the latter
part of September — the engineers having fully completed
their explorations, and mapped out in detail the future course
of the road.

THE HOSTILES. 31

As may well be imagined, these frequent invasions of their
territory by armed troops, awakened the most bitter resent-
ment in the breasts of the hostile Indians, and when, in 1874,
in obedience to the demands of the press, that the territory
of the Black Hills should be explored and opened to settle-
ment, it was decided by the Government to send an explor-
ing expedition of armed troops into that hitherto unknown
stronghold of the savages, the seal was set upon the crown-
ing act of its long series of annually-broken faith.

It had long been matter of popular belief in the north-
west that gold existed in the Black Hills, and when, at last,
the truth of these hitherto vague reports was established to
a Certainty in many adventurous minds, the excitement be-
came contagious, and parties of miners began to organize
for the invasion of the Hills. Then it was determined by
the Government to send a strong column of troops to thor-
oughly explore the Black Hills, and ascertain, through offi-
cial research, the truth or falsity of these golden rumors.

Accordingly, July 1st, 1874, a force under Lieutenant-Col-
onel Custer, comprising cavalry, infantry, four Gatling guns,
and sixty Indian scouts — 1,200 strong — and accompanied by
a huge wagon- train of provisions and baggage, left Fort Lin-
coln and took up the line of march for the Black Hills. The
party proceeded without molestation by Indians, although
many hostiles were seen along the route. The discoveries
of this expedition were such as to satisfy the most skeptical
in regard to the mineral and agricultural wealth of the Black
Hills region. Miners and other resolute pioneers began to
pour into the country.

The scientists, however, were not yet satisfied, and to quiet
the learned disputes of the self-constituted geologists of the
period, a second expedition, under direction of Professor
Jenney, with military escort commanded by Colonel Dodge,
9th Infantry, was sent from Fort Laramie the following year
—1875.

Their report, corroborative of the report of the expedi-
tion of the preceding year, was not required to convince the
hardy western pioneers of the desirability of the Hills a>& a
place of residence. They required no encouragement in the

32 . SUBJUGATING

shape of Government explorations, to brave the dangers of
the trip, and to press in and occupy the land.

Then it was that the Government awoke to a realization
of the consequences likely to flow from its frequent violation
of treaty obligations. A general war between the settlers
and the Indians seemed imminent, if, indeed, an indiscrim-
inate massacre of the former did not ensue. Every trail
leading to the Black Hills was marked with bloodshed, and
safety was found only in the interior of the Hills, where the
superstition of the Indians did not allow them to penetrate.
Then, too late, began the efforts of the Government to repair
the wrong. An order was issued, warning the settlers to
leave the Hills. Several times during the summer of 1875,
the troops under General Crook were sent into the Hills to
maintain the faith of the Government by removing the set-
tlers from the territory. They were conveyed out of the
country by military escort, imprisoned in military posts as
breakers of the law, their property destroyed, and them-
selves finally turned over to civil authority, to be punished
for disobedience of the orders of the Federal Government.
But all to no avail. Popular sympathy in the west was with
them. Soon as released they invariably returned to the dis-
puted territory, only to be again removed, and to again re-
turn. In August, 1875, there were six hundred men in one
locality, called " Custer City," and many others in different
localities. When removed by military authority, these
speedily returned, and the efforts of the Government to re-
pair its broken faith, by removing and keeping out white set-
tlers, were as futile as the military invasions of the country,
under its sanction and direction, had been successful.

So much for the causes that led to the breaking out of the
war on the part of the Sioux.

We are now to consider the relations of the chief actor in
the tragedy in which it closed — George A. Custer, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel of the 7th Cavalry — with a leader of the hostiles,
who fired the shot that terminated his life, in the battle of
the Little Big Horn, and thus gratified the vengeance for
which he and his followers had long waited in the mountain
fastnesses of Sitting Bull's domain. Some of the incidents

THE HOSTTLES. 33

we are about to relate may seem trivial and unimportant,
but they were all links in the chain of destiny that was draw-
ing the "long-haired chieftain" irresistibly toward his
tragic fate.

One bright morning in the spring of 1875 the peaceful cit-
izens of a quiet little town on the Missouri Eiver, in Da-
kota Territory, were immeasurably astonished to witness
a company of the 7th Cavalry, ucder command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel G. A. Custer, come riding up their streets,
fully armed and equipped as if for instant action. Nor was
their surprise lessened when it became known that the ob-
ject of the warlike display was nothing more nor less than
* the capture of sundry bags of grain that had been stolen
from the Government warehouses at Fort Lincoln by the
soldiers and citizen thieves, and sold to sundry citizens of
the town. After the capture of the bags of grain was suc-
cessfully effected, and loaded on army wagons, and, taking
with them several persons who had been concerned in the
illegal transfer of Government property, the train returned
in good order to Fort Lincoln.

CHAPTEE II.
CUSTEE.

The Grain Thieves and Bain-in-the-Face. — The Unrelenting

Warrior.

To make the record more complete in regard to army
matters, and more especially in relation to the troubles and
torments too often inflicted upon officers of high rank in the
regular army, the writer will here introduce circumstances
with relation to certain current events as they transpired, in
order to more clearly and pointedly illustrate to the reader
how General Custer, while in command at different stations,
as well as other officers of high rank in the regular army at
the present day, whose moral training having been good, and
always with an eye to good discipline and the morale of their
respective commands, also army society and communities

34 SUBJUGATING

in civil life are compelled not only to accept the presence,
but to a certain extent, the services of unprincipled and
profligate scapegoats, who, by accident, hold their positions
either by commission or special appointment, not only to
the horrid disgust, but to the actual disgrace and discredit
of our worthy professional army officers and their families, as
well as to all civilized and well-regulated communities who
are at times compelled to accept the services of, whenever
enforced upon them, a certain immoral and wretched class
of imported floating spawn, that hold positions by accident.

General Custer, in his well-meant efforts to preserve the
morale of the rank and file of his command, and to enforce
good order and discipline throughout the garrison at which
he was stationed, did not escape the annoyances, or avoid
the obstacles usually encountered by United States army
officers of high rank in similar measures of reform.

Not the least difficulty in the way of success in such efforts,
is found in the character, or rather the lack of character, of
many of their subordinate officers ; and this is due to the
appointments from civil life, made after the close of the war,
by congressmen of a certain class, who, for a time, regarded
the army as an asylum for their poor relatives and distressed
constituents, many of whom were wholly unfit for their posi-
tions, both on account of utter incompetency and intemperate
habits. This class of appointments having been forced upon
the army by unprincipled politicians, tended greatly to re-
duce the morale of the army and to lower the standard of
social life in army circles, and rendered also much more
difficult the task of commanding officers in enforcing disci-
pline and orderly behavior in their respective commands.

General Custer was not exempt from these annoyances,
but frequently found his plans for enforcing army regulations
seriously interfered with by the inconsiderate and unauthor-
ized action of his subordinates.

On one occasion, General Custer had occasion to detail a
Lieutenant from his command on special secret service for
the Government.

A gang of grain and horse thieves infested the garrison,
whom it was important to shadow at their base of operations
in a neighboring village.

the; hostiles. 35

The officer assumed the rde of detective, took up his sta-
tion in the village, under positive orders from General Custer
" to let no guilty man escape," which order, unlike that of
President Grant's in the whisky ring cases, was given in all
sincerity, and with the expectation that it would be carried
out to the letter.

But instead of conducting himself as an officer and gen-
tleman, and thereby justifying the confidence reposed in
him by his superior officer, his special attentions were re-
served for a damsel of African extraction and chocolate com-
plexion, who had long been a sort of silent partner in his
household joys and sorrows, and who had added to his re-
sponsibilities and contributed an infinitesimal unit to the roll
of the census-taker oi the village aforesaid at the same time.

His regular associates were the miscreants and low flung
gamblers of the town, and his most frequent haunts the dens
and dives where their evil games flourished unmolested.

Of the gang of thieves who were detected with stolen
grain in their possession, but very few were brought to trial,
and fewer still were punished. One or two of minor influ-
ence were selected as victims, and their conviction was
procured in the courts. The other and more prominent
leaders of the gang were permitted to go unpunished, and
the officer afterwards openly and boldly boasted of the favor-
itism shown certain guilty but influential parties, who,
through his connivance, were permitted to escape the pun-
ishment that was their due.

This profligate officer, who thus proved faithless to the
trust imposed on him, to gratify his own personal designs
and illegitimate purposes, when leaving the country left be-
hind him another sprig of his paternity, in the shape of a
curbstone-shyster, whether to take charge of the bastard
responsibility aforesaid, or to render aid and encouragement
to the gang of outcasts, thugs and petty imported govern-
ment thieves who still hold sway on the frontier (and who
are his constant associates) does not appear.

The reader, doubtless, already knows too well that our
social circles, both in the army and civil life, are drifted over
with this class of profligates, and the writer has simply call-

36 SUBJUGATING

ed up this matter to show how military circles have been
imposed upon by the appointment of such unprincipled
men, who, in all probability, could not make a respectable
living outside the army, but who have obtained commis-
sions through. transitory political influence, and are thrown
in to fill vacancies caused by the death or resignation of
worthier men.

It is, however, proper to state that this evil has of late
been counteracted greatly by the action of the better class
of officers, many of whom have gone to work earnestly to
weed out from the service, wherever practicable, these un-
principled vagabonds, who disgrace the uniform they wear,
and who have sought a commission in the army, only to find
there an asylum for life.

The entire blame, as already said, for this unwarranted
state of affairs in the United States army, lies at the doors
of unscrupulous members of Congress, who recommend for
appointments in the army the worthless and degraded loaf-
ers of their respective districts, as a reward for political
service.

If the better class of officers continue to apply the remedy
at their hands, and administer the medicine freely, the result
will add greatly to their personal credit, and be highly con-
ducive to a more wholesome discipline, and increased respect-
ability, and better morale of the army. The only suggestion
the writer has to make is, " Let the good work go on — keep
tveeding out"

In returning to the grain thieves we will briefly state :
Of the citizens arrested in this way and confined in the post
guard-house at Fort Lincoln, were two men who, not pleased
with the military attentions paid them, resolved no longer
to trespass on the willing hospitality of the 7th Cavalry, and
one night, with the connivance of the soldiers implicated
with them, a hole was cut in the outside wall of the guard-
house ; thus they obtained their liberty, and afterward, out-
side the limits of the reservation, defied arrest.

The escape of these parties was of small moment in itself
— but, at the same time and through the same aperture,
there escaped an inmate of the guard-house — an Indian held

THE H0ST1LES. 37

prisoner by Custer — who, afterward, in the valley of the
Little Big Horn* killed his distinguished jailer, and who,
now going directly from the Lincoln guard-house to the
hostile camp, devoted his time thereafter to persuading
peaceful bands of Agency Indians to join them, and to per-
fecting htg plans of future vengeance. This was Bain-in-the-
Face, the most treacherous and bloody-minded of the Unc-
papa hostiles, yet who so far had disguised his hatred to the
white men, as to be duly enrolled upon the books of the
Agent (at Standing Bock) as a good Indian, and as such was
entitled to a share in the regular issues of provisions, blankets
and ammunition. But, like the majority of these peaceful
warriors, Bain-in-the-Face was a good Indian only during the
winter season, and pending the spring issuance of rations
and clothing. Thereafter he was wont to depart on the war-
path with parties of the able-bodied warriors of the tribe,
leaving their women and children under the protecting care
of the Agency until the waning of the summer, when cold
weather and the approach of another ration period would
draw them back to the Agency. Here, at the rejoicings con-
sequent upon the issuance of rations, it was their wont to
boast of their bloody deeds, and exhibit the scalps and tro-
phies torn from the helpless victims they had slaughtered
with the repeating rifles obligingly furnished them by the
United States Government.

This is literal truth. Bain-in-the-Face, an Indian of the
Uncpapa tribe, and an attache of Standing Bock Agency —
hence, presumably at peace with the white men — had assist-
ed at the killing of Dr. Houtzinger and Mr. Baliran, the
civilians murdered on the march with the expedition of 1873,
already referred to in these pages.

In the winter of 1875 the Standing Bock Agency Indians
were holding their usual dance on an occasion of drawing
their stated rations. Among them, as usual, was Bain-in-
the-Face, with his fellow-murderers, all pensioners upon the
bounty of a weakly, magnanimous Government.

In the course of their pantomimic dance there was told, in
the plainest of Indian sign language, the bloody tale of the
murder of two unarmed white men in the valley of the Yel-

38 SUBJUGATING

lowstone. Exultingly in the gyrations of his war-dance the
Indian boasted of his prowess, and, in proof thereof, exhib-
ited articles that he had taken from the lifeless body of Dr.
Houtzinger. In the little crowd of white spectators near at
hand — agency employes, hangers-on of the military post,
etc. — stood Charles Reynolds, a scout attached to the 7th
Cavalry, well and favorably known on the frontier as " Lone-
some Charley," a brave-hearted, dauntless, quiet man, and
who afterward was killed in Reno's rout at the Little Big
Horn battle. Returning to his post at Fort Lincoln, Rey-
nolds reported to Custer what he had seen and heard. A
detachment of one hundred men and four officers were at
once dispatched from Lincoln to Standing Rock Agency,
seventy miles distant, to arrest the murderer. Arrived at
the Agency, they found the Indians engaged in their usual
occupation of drawing rations — it being the day for the is-
suance of beef. Hundreds of fully-armed warriors, mingled
with the non-combatants of the tribe, were greedily await-
ing their share of the bountiful supply of food which a mis-
taken Government deems essential to prolong the precious
lives of its privileged assassins and incendiaries, yet whom,
as we have already seen, it does not itself disdain to rob of
their unceded lands, when measures of public policy dictate
the violation of its treaty stipulations.

Notwithstanding great excitement on the part of the as-
sembled braves, the arrest was effected in safety, and Rain-
in-the-Face was conveyed, under escort of Captain T. W.
Custer — brother of Lieutenant-Colonel Custer — to Fort
Lincoln. Here he fully confessed his crime, and remained
a prisoner in the guard-house at Lincoln until the incarcer-
ation of the suspected grain thieves and their escape gave
him his liberty.

Rain-in-the-Face went directly to the hostile camp, and
attaching himself to the band of Sitting Bull, was joined by
his followers, and sent frequent messages by the Agency In-
dians — who paid them frequent visits of friendship and busi-
ness — that he was ardently awaiting an opportunity to be
revenged on Lieutenant-Colonel Custer and Captain Custer,
for his imprisonment.

THE HOSTILES. 39

In the spring of 1876 it was determined by the Govern-
ment to attempt the subjugation of Sitting Bull and the law-
less tribes under him, who had refused to accede to the pro-
visions of the treaty of 1868, and had since led a wandering
life. Their numbers augmented each spring by frequent
accessions* of warriors, and supplies of war irom the Mis-
souri River Agencies. From their stronghold at the head-
waters of the Yellowstone, war parties were continually sent
out to annoy the white settlements.

Their camp formed a convenient retreat for disaffected
Agency Indians. Criminals and unruly spirits, supported
by the Government through the winter, were ready in the
summer to join the hostiles, conveying to them arms, ammu-
nition, ponies and supplies. Thus the problem of dealing
with the professedly peaceful Indians was greatly compli-
cated.

The only way to end the constantly-recurring troubles,
and prevent a general uprising of the whole body of Indians
— many of them already on the war-path, resentful at the
violation of the treaty of 1868 — was to strike a decisive blow
directly at the headquarters of the savage tribes, and by
breaking up their rendezvous in the Yellowstone region,
compel them to return and surrender at the various Agen-
cies on the Missouri River.

With this object in view, the expedition of 1876 was plan-
ned. It was arranged that three expeditions should start
simultaneously for the headwaters of the Yellowstone — one
from the north, one from the south, and one from the east —
the three to join forces and co-operate in the region consti-
tuting the objective point of their converging marches.

The column from the south, under General Crook, started
from Fort Fetterman, Wyoming Territory, May 29th, 1876,
and marched due north for the Powder River country. It
was composed of 1,300 men, and arrived at old Fort Reno
June 3d. It succeeded in reaching the indicated ground,
viz., the valley of the Yellowstone, drained by its tributa-
ries, the Big Horn, Rosebud, Tongue and Powder Rivers,
together with their branches, and at one time was within
one hundred miles of the northern column ; but the Indians

40 SUBJUGATING

were between them, and after several heavy skirmishes, in
which the troops were defeated, it fell back to the head of
Tongue Biver, and from there returned ingloriously to its
starting place.

The force from the north, under Colonel Gibbon, left Fort
Ellis, Montana, with a strength of four hundred men, and
wagon train, marched due east, and joined the force from the
east under General Terry, June 1st.

The departure of the column from the east, which, in the
original plan of the campaign, was to have been led by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Custer, had been delayed, in consequence of
Custer having been called to Washington to give evidence
before the Congressional Committee then engaged in invest-
igating charges against Secretary of War Belknap. Like all
army officers stationed on the frontier, Custer was convers-
ant with the terrible corruption of the Interior Department,
displayed in the management of the Indian Agencies and
trading posts. As an honest man, he did what many others,
better informed than himself, but more devoted to self-
interest, had not dared to do — spoke aloud his convictions.
Custer's testimony — and the fact that he had presumed to
hold opinions on the subject — was distasteful to Belknap's
friend, U. S. Grant, President of the United States, and
brother of Orville Grant, a post-trader of precious memory
on the Missouri Biver.

CHAPTEB HI.

Origin of the Breach between Belknap and Custer.

Inasmuch as there are but very few people in the country,
even among those holding official positions in the army, and
in military circles outside, comprehend f lly the causes that
led the Belknap tradership business to such a sudden
" burst of the bubble," the author thinks it proper, in con-
nection with the foregoing history, to state here fully the
facts as they came under his observation at the time of their
occurrence. Several m&nths before the high court of im-
peachment was ordered to investigate the tradership business

THE HOSTILES. 41

of Secretary of War Belknap, there was, in one of the regi-
ments belonging to the United States Army, a young officer
who was placed under arrest in consequence of charges pre-
ferred against him. He was tried by court-martial, and by
a preponderance of evidence against him, and an unfortunate
combination of circumstances, was found guilty and sen-
tenced to dismissal from the service of the United States.
It was, however, generally considered among those conversant
with the affair, that the charges originally preferred against
him were frivolous, and were created and brought against
him more from personal malice than from any zeal for the
service on the part of his accusers. Through the regular
military channels, the findings and sentence of the court-
martial reached Secretary Belknap for his approval or dis-
approval. It was thought in army circles that the Secretary
should have shown some leniency, and been governed by the
precedents on record at the War Office in similar cases, at
the time. A commutation of the sentence to suspension
from rank and half pay for six or twelve months was con-
fidently expected by the friends of the aforesaid delinquent
officer, and would have been considered a reasonable pun-
ishment for the offense charged. Contrary to popular ex-
pectation, the sentence of the court was promptly confirmed
by the Secretary of War, and the young officer left the ser-
vice of the United States army in disgrace, but only to
return in due time. He, however, immediately set himself
to work to procure his reinstatement by a special act of Con-
gress ; but the approval of the findings and sentence of the
court-martial by Secretary Belknap, of course, made a very
strong case against him. In the meantime, the young officer,
who, while in the service, had excellent opportunities to
observe the manner in which the tradership traffic was car-
ried on under the Belknap rule, set himself to work collecting
facts and evidence concerning the same, and by means of
these, prevailed upon his friends in Congress to bring the
matter before the proper committee. This was done, and
the result was a high court of impeachment. The Secretary
of War was arraigned at the bar of the U. S. Senate to
answer the grave charges preferred against him, and only

42 SUBJUGATING

escaped the righteous verdict of an indignant nation by a
hasty resignation, and as hasty an acceptance of the same by
President Grant, of his high office. We may add in this
connection, that the young officer who first set in motion
the much needed investigation, was afterward reinstated to
his place in the army, and assumed his former rank in the
service.

Another matter upon which the people of the country,
even those of high standing, both in civil and military life,
are not enlightened, is the causes' that led to the ill-feeling
existing between Grant and Belknap on the one side against
General G. A. Custer on the other. It was previously a
matter of record, and known all over the country, that
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan were not only intimate friends
and admirers of General Custer, but that they placed un-
limited confidence in his fighting abilities and military skill.

Indeed, Custer was acknowledged to be the best Tndi^Ti
fighter on the plains, by both Generals Sherman and Sheri-
dan ; and on the 13th of August, 1869, at Fort Hays, Kan-
sas, Brevet-Major-General S. D. Sturgis, Colonel 7th U. S.
Cavalry, says, in an official communication to headquarters :
" There is, perhaps, no other officer of equal rank on this
line, who has worked more faithfully against the Indians, or
who has acquired the same degree of knowledge of the coun-
try and of the Indian character."

Department commanders also paid high tribute to him as
an Indian fighter and an officer of indomitable energy and
skill in general military matters ; while General Sheridan
remarked at one time in the field, while Custer was, with a
portion of his regiment, engaged with a band of wild war-
riors of the plains : " When I want anything done up quick,
I can send Custer to do it, and can almost invariably rely
upon the result." Such a remark from the Lieut. -General
of the Army shows that the utmost confidence was placed
in Custer, aside from the fact that he was frequently placed
in command of the most important expeditions against the
hostile Indians.

Now, in the name of a just Heaven, the author begs leave
to ask of the highest military tribunal in the land, what had

THE HOSTTLES. 43

General George A. Custer done during the interval between
the above date and the time of his fitting out his last expe-
dition for that fatal march to the valley of the Little Big
Horn, to warrant the harsh and humiliating treatment then
bestowed upon him by President Grant and Secretary of
War Belknap? The voice of the country speaks to-day,
and says that Custer, the true soldier and gentleman, had
forfeited not one iota of his well-earned fame or knightly
standing; while Secretary Belknap, whose high position had
already been degraded by the illegal sale of traderships, was
still further prostituting his honorable office to gratify a
personal ill-feeling against a gallant officer, who was the
beau ideal of a soldier, the pride of the American cavalry.
The author proposes to here explain briefly the occurrences
that transpired to mar the friendly relations heretofore ex-
isting between Grant and Belknap on one side, and Custer
on the other. During the year 1870, in the latter part of
June, and at the closing of Congress, a certain law concern-
ing post traders was very ingeniously framed, and embodied
in what was known as the Military Bill, then pending before
Congress, the substance of which is about as follows : " And
the Secretary of War shall have power to appoint one or
more traders at the military posts on the frontier, for the
accommodation of freighters and emigrants." The reader
will readily observe the ingenuity displayed in framing the
above clause, and when the bill was printed and placed before
the unsuspecting and unsophisticated members of Congress,
most of whom had never been west of the one hundredth
longitudinal line, its deep design escaped detection. The
Congressmen felt, doubtless, that they were allying them-
selves to a liberal act, and making special provision for the
wants of the freighters and emigrants, who are, after the
army, the real pioneers of the far West. Little did these
unsophisticated Congressmen think that in passing this
seemingly beneficial act, they were making the Secretary of
War the supreme judge and ruler over every post trader in
the western country, and that he would with one stroke of
the pen, in one sweeping order, turn them all adrift, regard-
less of their fitness or unfitness for the position, or the fact

44 SUBJUGATING

that they held their positions by the recommendation and
with the consent of the Post Council and Post Commandant
of the military stations where they were located. Under
former regulations, as now, post traders were appointed by
a council of the officers of the post, with the approval of the
Post Commandant ; Belknap made all subsequent appoint-
ments to suit himself, regardless of the wishes of 'the officers
on duty at the post where the trader was to be located.

This unprecedented way of making appointments by one
of the highest officials of the nation, was not confined in its
discourtesy to the officers of the military posts in the West,
but extended to Generals Sherman and Sheridan, and the
department commanders as 'welL When an appointment
was given to a post trader under the new regime, it was not,
as before, forwarded through the regular military channels,
but was sent at once direct to the commanding officer of the
post where the trader was to locate, ignoring thereby the
General and Lieutenant-General of the army, as well as the
department commanders. Such open, bold, and high-
handed discourtesy shown toward the general officer^ of the
army, whose careerwas recorded as good in the minds of
the American people, and who were known to be eminently
conscientious and successful in the management of army
matters under their control, and whose honor and fidel-
ity to duty could not be questioned, of course had a demor-
alizing effect, and naturally caused a feeling of great dis-
trust throughout the army toward this high official of the
nation — Secretary Belknap. Even the rank and file of the
army shared the feeling of discontent.

The private soldiers, when in their own club-room, known
as " the soldiers' club-room," would at times say : " Well,
boys, let's drink to ' old Bel ;' he is not only Secretary of
War, and the Supreme Boss over all of us, but the old coon
is running the sutler stores too !"

At one of the posts, where Custer was placed in command,
on the frontier, the post trader was one of the Belknap ap-
pointees, and after some months had passed, Custer, who was
a very close-observing officer, and knew no other way than
to do his duty faithfully, reported to the Secretary of War

THE HOSTILES. 45

that the trader in question was a man of intemperate and
profligate habits, which fact had a demoralizing tendency
among the young officers and private soldiers of the gar-
rison.

The Secretary could not overlook nor pigeon-hole a com-
munication of this nature and importance. The one thing
he could not avoid doing to preserve outwardly the dignity
and honor of his office, and that was to remove the trader.
Custer had himself a record and influence that the War Of-
fice could not ignore, and with Custer's letter of information
on record, the efforts of the venerable Simon Cameron, and
the most influential men in Congress, were powerless to
save the profligate trader whom he had denounced. He was
removed and another trader was appointed to the post.

Custer had no preference in the matter of the post trader-
ships, knowing he was likely to be ordered from one mili-
tary post to another at any time ; but for the sake of the
younger officers of the regiment, one of them his own
brother, he desired that the example and opportunities of
intemperance should not be furnished them in the store of
the post trader.

Again months rolled on. Custer was engaged in making
a private investigation in regard to some grain stolen from
the Government warehouses. Before the end of his investi-
gations was reached, a portion of the stolen grain was dis-
covered in the warehouse of the post trader. Suffice this
matter to rest here, by saying that Custer ordered the unfor-
tunate trader off the reservation, on pain of arrest, which
order was, of course, obeyed ; the trader leaving his partner
to settle the business, and he never returned to that reser-
vation while Custer was in command. Here it was that
Custer showed a degree of leniency and warm-heartedness
of which few people are aware ; and yet these were his char-
acteristic qualities. He could have pursued the trader with
criminal proceedings, had he so chosen. But he preferred
to leave that duty to others, knowing that he had done his
in ordering the trader off the military reservation, and
feeling that humane considerations were not beneath the
thoughts of any man, however great or powerful.

46 SUBJUGATING

The reader will now readily perceive that in both cases
against the traders, Custer had simply done his duty as an
officer and a soldier, as his obligations to the service de-
manded that he should do. No other course, in honor, was
open to him ; his duty unquestionably requiring him to per-
form it fearlessly, no matter what trouble or disappointment
it might entail upon Secretary Belknap, who, in an unpre-
cedented manner, had taken the tradership appointments in
his own hands, and who was not the man to brook with equa-
nimity the enforced displacement of two of his favorite post
traders. Ten companies of troops usually wintered at this
post, and the profits arising from the tradership business
were not less than $15,000 or $20,000 per year. Hence arose
the breach between the avaricious Belknap and the gallant*
close-observing Custer, and it soon grew into a wide one.
Custer was called to Washington by a Congressional Com-
mittee to testify in regard to the post tradership business.
He exhausted all honorable means to avoid the summons of
the Committee, but was compelled to obey their mandate.
Custer's testimony, or rather the fact that he was called
upon by the Committee, as probably conversant with the
sales of post traderships, excited the ire of Belknap, and
here it was that President Grant arrayed himself by the side'
of Belknap against Custer. Belknap was a warm personal
friend of the President's, and of his brother, Orville Grant,
who will long live in the history of the Missouri River coun-
try as a successful speculator in the sale of frontier post
traderships. Belknap was, moreover, a member of his cab-
inet, and Grant must needs sustain him — even had the fam-
ily reputation not been involved through the speculative
Orville.

The Belknap impeachment trial, although the criminal
escaped deserved punishment by a precipitate resignation
of his office, has no doubt had a great moral effect upon the
different departments of the Government. Belknap now
stands before the American people — not one of the leading
officials of the country — not the honorable and dignified.
Secretary of War he once appeared to be — but in the eyes
of those who watched his career, he stands a disgraced man„

THE HOSTILES. 47

with " none so poor to do him reverence." He has lost not
simply office and position, but character, reputation and the
respect of the American people, who would have been glad
to have held him in their highest esteem until this day, had
he deported himself with honor.

Let his example serve to deter the future high officials
of the land from deviating from the path of strict rectitude.
The homely old motto, " Honesty is the best policy," is as
well worthy the consideration of a politician and office-holder
as of that of the average citizen.

CHAPTEE IV.

Custer Displaced from live Command of the Eastern Column, at

Fort Lincoln.

Custer was displaced from the command of the eastern
column, then in process of organization, at Fort Lincoln,
and forbidden, by order of the President, to accompany the
troops on the march. General Terry was placed in com-
mand of the expedition, but afterward, in response to the
earnest entreaties of Custer to be spared the humiliation of
seeing the troops march without him, the President's order
was so far modified as to permit him to go with the expedi-
tion, in command of the 7th Cavalry. Thus reorganized,
the column left Fort Lincoln with 12 companies of the
7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Custer, 3 com-
panies of the 6th and 17th Infantry, 4 Gatling guns, and
a detachment of 45 Indian scouts, under the Arickiree
chief, Bloody Knife. The wagon train consisted of 114
six-mule teams, 37 two-horse teams, 70 other vehicles,
ambulances, etc., with 85 pack-mule and 179 civilian drivers
— a total force of 2,700 armed men — seeking the Sioux, and
divided into three columns of 1,300, 400, and 1,000 respect-
ively. These three columns started from the circumference
of a circle with a radius of three hundred miles, under
orders to concentrate and join their converging lines some-
where in the region enclosed by the Big Horn and Powder
Rivers — where the enemy was supposed to be in force — there

48 SUBJUGATING

to enclose and crush out the desperate remnants of savage
outlaws, their number being variously estimated at from
1,000 to 3,000. Later events proved the fallacy of this be-
lief ; that between 3,000 and 5,000 Indians were massed
in the fatal valley of the Yellowstone, awaiting in savage
ferocity the coming of the troops, all of whom they could
easily have annihilated with their superior arms and steeds,
had the remainder of them come within their lines.

Who that lived in Bismarck in the year 1876, during the
time that the " Lincoln column " of the great expedition was
being fitted out across the river, will forget that it was
matter of public notoriety that the savage hordes were
gathering their clans from north and from south, to dispute
the passage of the soldiers ; that even while their godly agents
were crying aloud, "All is well/' the Bed Cloud, Standing
Hock and Spotted Tail agencies were being depopulated of
their fighting material. Supply trains, with men, arms,
ponies, provisions, ammunition and warriors, were rushing
to that wild rendezvous on the Yellowstone, where the rest-
less Sitting Bull awaited the tardy coming of the royal sacri-
fice. Each new accession to their ranks was hailed with
acclamations of delight, and in the weird gyrations of the
war-dance the blood-stained wretches recounted their gory
deeds, and sought to stimulate each other to horrid acts of
brutality and bloodshed. Who that heard them can forget
those significant inquiries heard in the streets of Bismarck,
by emissaries fresh from Sitting Bull's camp, during the
sad days of Custer's humiliation under presidential dis-
pleasure, when the men waited in arms for the order to
march, and their brave, outspoken commander chafed in
bitterness of spirit under the undeserved disgrace of being
ordered to stay behind. "What are the dog-soldiers waiting
for?" "Are they tired before they start?" "What is the
matter with Custer?" "Is the long-haired chief sick?"
All these and more, coupled with direful threats and sick-
ening messages of expectant revenge, from Bain-in-the-Face
and his no less bloody followers, were repeated from mouth
to mouth, and excited in many hearts sad feelings of fore-
boding relative to the fate of the gallant Custer, who in go-

THE HOSTILES. 49

ing forth to give battle to the merciless chieftain of the Sioux,
left behind him, in the person of XL S. Grant, the chief ex-
ecutive of the land, a, foe no less relentless.

On June 21st Gibbon's column was sent from Terry's
camp on the Yellowstone, at the mouth of Tongue River, to
the mouth of the Big Horn River, where, after being ferried
across by the supply steamer " Far West," that had followed
by river from Fort Lincoln, it was directed to proceed to
the forks of the Little and Big Horn, its future movements
to be controlled by circumstances as they should arise, but
with the hope expressed by General Terry that the Indians
in the Little Big Horn region should be enclosed by Gib-
bon's column, in co-operation with the 7th Cavalry, under
Ouster, who left Terry's camp on the Yellowstone and
Tongue Rivers on the afternoon of June 22d, in pursuit of a
large body of Indians, whose trail, proceeding up the Rose-
bud River, had been discovered a few days previously in a
scouting expedition by Major Reno, of the 7th Cavalry.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ouster was not hampered by positive
orders, being simply advised to follow the Indian trail until
its general direction was definitely ascertained. Then, if,
as was expected, it should be found to turn toward the
Little Big Horn, he was directed to proceed southward as
far as the headwaters of the Tongue, and then to turn to-
ward the Little Big Horn, guarding constantly against the
possibility of the Indians escaping around his left flank to
the south and rear, General Terry distinctly stating that
" such was his confidence in the zeal, energy and ability of
Lieutenant-Colonel Custer, that he would not impose upon
him precise orders, which might hamper his action when
nearly in contact with the enemy."

50 SUBJUGATING

CHAPTEE V.
March to the Battle-fidd.

Tl\us, with his future course of action left to his own dis-
cretionary judgment, Lieut. -Colonel Custer, with his regi-
ment, left camp on the Yellowstone, June 22d, and proceeded
up the Eosebud Eiver during the 23d and 24th, making
sixty-one miles, the trail and Indian signs freshening with
every mile, when they encamped and waited for information
from the scouts, whose detachment had accompanied the
regiment. It was ascertained, beyond doubt, that the Indian
village was in the valley of the Little Big Horn, and, in
order to reach it without discovering their approach to the
Indians, a night march was decided on, the troops moving
at 11 P. M., the line of march turning from the Eosebud to
the right, up one of its branches. At 2 A M. of the morn-
ing of the 25th, it was* ascertained that the divide between
the Eosebud and the Little Big Horn Eivers could not be
crossed before daylight. The command then rested for three
hours and made coffee, many of the brave fellows then par-
taking of their last meal on earth. The march was then
resumed and the divide crossed, and about 8 A. M. the
command was in the valley of one of the branches of the
Little Big Horn. Indians being then plainly seen, and as it
was thus evident that the troops could not take them by
surprise, it was decided to attack them at once.

On the march, Custer had divided the regiment into three
separate commands, assigning to Major M. A Eeno, Compa-
nies M, A and G, and to Captain Benteen, H, D and K,
retaining himself the command of Companies C, E, F, I"
and L ; Captain McDougal being assigned with Company B
to the care of the pack train in the rear.

Custer's plan of attack in Indian warfare, in which he had
been hitherto pre-eminently successful, was that of simulta-
neous assault from several points, an attack in front and
flank at all events. In this instance, when arrived near the
battle-field, and as he prepared himself to lead the charge.

THE HOSTTLES. 51

about 12.30 P: M., he ordered the remaining two divisions
to move up quickly and support him.

The battalion under Benteen with the pack train did not
come up in time to participate in the charge and opening
fight.

The detachment under Major Reno, numbering 145 men,
hurried forward as ordered, and crpssed the river, where
they soon became engaged with overwhelming numbers of
the enemy. To save themselves from utter annihilation at
the hands of the countless droves of Indians, who suddenly
sprang into view, they retreated to a high hill in the vicin-
ity, where they entrenched themselves, being soon after
joined by the troops under Benteen.

Soon afterward they were furiously attacked and besieged
by numberless foes ; the siege being next day renewed, when
the troops were relieved by the arrival of the- soldiers under
General Terry, the Indians filing away across the hills at his
approach.

Up to this date nothing was known of the fate of Custer
and his command, the soldiers in the entrenchment on the
hill, who never before had known him to fail them in dan-
ger, wondering audibly why he did not come to their relief..
In the retreat from the scene of his engagement with the
Indians to the safety of the hill, Major Eeno lost in killed :
First Lieutenant Donald Mcintosh, Second Lieutenant Ben.
H. Hodgeson, 7th Cavalry, and A. A. Surgeon J. M. DeWolf,
together with the famous scout Charles Reynolds, and 29.
enlisted men of the regiment killed and 7 wounded. In the
later attack on the hill, of the combined forces of Reno and
Benteen — 380 men in all, with 12 officers — there were killed
18 enlisted men and 46 wounded.

Upon the arrival of General Terry, the first intimatjjon
was obtained of the fate of Custer and his men. An Upsar-
oka scout, named Curley, had almost miraculously escaped
during the progress of the fight with Custer, and made his
way back to General Terry, then on the steamer " Fat West,"
at the mouth of the Big Horn River, and reported the total
loss of Custer and his soldiers.

This report was disbelieved, or, at least, thought to be

52 SUBJUGATING

greatly exaggerated — it being deemed impossible that such
a calamity could befall the most successful Indian fighter of
his day. Yet, from the extreme agitation of the forlorn scout,
it was evident that a misfortune of some kind had occurred ;
and General Terry, with the residue of the troops under
him, at once pressed forward, under the leadership of Cur-
ley, arriving in time to save the lives of the wearied sur-
vivors under Reno ; who, though making a gallant defense
against overpowering numbers of the enemy, had lost all
hope of rescue, since Custer had apparently failed them, and
greeted the unexpected arrival of their comrades as a happy
reprieve from expected death.

Immediately upon the arrival of General Terry — the In-
dians then having left — a detachment was sent out to search
for traces of the missing commander and his men. Not far
away their battle-field was found, and though no living thing
was there to tell how grandly they had fought, and nobly
they had died, yet no tongue was needed to show that they
had all gone down, company by company, contending to the
last for life, as heroes ever do. Their dead and mutilated
bodies, disposed in the orderly array of systematic battle ;
the compact companies, with officers in place behind them ;
the unbroken skirmish line of ghastly corpses, testified more
eloquently than spoken words could do to the sublimity of
courage that had animated each soul of that heroic band.
An examination of the battle-ground disclosed the fact that
when Custer left his comrades of the other two divisions,
with orders for them to hasten forward and join in the at-
tack, he dashed down the stream soma distance, seeking a
convenient ford where he could cros^the river and attack
the village from below ; but failing to do so, went much fur-
ther down the river than intended in his arrangements
with Reno, whom he expected to support in the charge he
had ordered Eeno to make before leaving him. When, at
length, a suitable ford was discovered, his further progress
was violently opposed by numberless Indians, who poured
in a heavy fire from across the narrow river. Custer dis-
mounted, to fight on foot, but his skirmishers were unable
to cross the stream under the galling fire that assailed them

THE HOSTILES. 53

and the cavalry were speedily driven back to the high ground
in the rear ; but not until swarms of Indians, mounted and
on foot, had poured over the shallow river, and seized the
ravines on either side, effectually cutting off their retreat in
the direction in which they came. Custer was soon effectu-
ally surrounded, and receiving a terrible fire from all sides.
The dead bodies of men and horses were found at the ford,
and at a distance of about three-quarters of a mile from the
river, as though thrown across the line of retreat to check
the advance of the enemy. The entire company of Captain
James Calhoun, brother-in-law of Lieutenant-Colonel Cus-
ter, lay dead in an irregular line, with Captain Calhoun and
his Lieutenant, John J. Crittenden, in their proper places in
the rear. A mile beyond this, on a ridge parallel to the river,
the whole of Captain Myles W. Keogh's company were
slaughtered in position — their right resting on the hill
where Custer fell. Still further back on the ridge were
found the dead bodies of thirty-two men of Captain George
W. Yates' company, and here, too, had fallen the brave and
ill-fated Custer, with his brother, Captain T. W. Custer, his
Adjutant, Captain W. W. Cook, Lieutenant William Van W.
Beily, and Captain Yates, together with the young nephew
and brother of Custer — Armstrong Beed and Boston Custer,
forage-master of the 7th Cavalry.

In a ravine near the river were found the dead bodies of
the men and horses of Captain Thomas W. Custer's company,
together with those of Captain Algernon E. Smith, and
twenty-three men of his company. Lieutenant James E.
Porter^Jjieutenant John Sturgis, and Lieutenant Harring-
ton, together with tlllrty-five enlisted men, were missing, and
no trace of them could be discovered. Near the ford, as
though killed early in the fight, was the body of Mark Kel-
log, correspondent of the New York Herald, and a resident
of the frontier. His body was undisturbed and still clothed,
as though overlooked by accident in the horrible carnival of
blood and butchery that followed hard upon the battle.
Near here was also found the body of " Isaiah" a colored
scout, long in the employ of the officers on the frontier, an
intelligent, trustworthy man, married to a Sioux squaw, who,

54 SUBJUGATING

with his children, was then at Fort Rice. This circumstance
did not appear to be a recommendation to the mercy of his
wife's relatives, as he was not only killed, but circumstances
indicated that he had been captured and met his death by
the savage cruelty of torture.

The probable fate of the thirty-five missing men and their
three officers is too horrible to contemplate without a shud-
der. It is claimed by Indians who were in the fight and after-
wards returned to their agencies, that the horses of a portion
of the calvary were captured by the Indians early in the en-
gagement, while the situation of those surrounding the
group of men and officers, with whom Custer made his last
stand, would seem to indicate that they had been killed by
the soldiers to form a barricade, behind which to defend
themselves, until the relief which they doubtless then ex-
pected from Reno and Benteen should arrive.

How vague and satisfactory are these pitiful details of this
most horrible of modern massacres, the exact occurrences of
which will probably never ba known ! The sole survivors
of all that proud array of men and steeds, so recklessly hur-
ried to their impending doom, are the Upsaroka scout,
"Curley," and the horse of Captain Keogh, Comanche, which
was found near the battle-field with seven wounds. Major
Reno, thinking him mortally wounded, ordered the noted
war-horse to be shot; but Comanche was a veteran of the
7th Cavalry, and the men who knew and loved him, begged
for his life, and by careful treatment and nursing he was re-
stored, and remains to-day the only living survivor of the
fated five companies who plunged into the carnage that en-
gulfed alike, rider and steed, in the lonely valley of the
Little Big Horn.

Soon after the discovery of the dead bodies on the battle-
field, they were given hasty burial by their comrades of the
surviving companies. Then, the Indians having escaped,
and the supplies being exhausted, General Terry took up
the line of march toward the Yellowstone, and returned with
all possible haste to his headquarters at St. Paul, Minn., and
thus ended one of the most disastrous and disgraceful cam-
paigns in the annals of the country ; and in the language of

THE HOSTILES. 55

General Sherman in his annual official report to the Secre-
tary of War, who submitted the same to the next session of . :
Congress (the Forty-fourth), which convened in December, j j/r
1876, said, " And had it not been for the brave and heroic *

Reno, not a man would have been brought off the field to
tell the tale ! "

In the entire management of the expedition, from its first
organization down to the closing affray, there is but one re-
deeming feature mingled with our pity for the gallant boys
in blue, who there met an untimely death — the warmest
Admiration for the knightly courage, to which their lifeless
bodies, ranged in order along the battle lines, bore dumb but
eloquent witness.

" Even thus the sword of Custer,
In his disastrous fall,
Flashed out a blaze that charmed the world,
And glorified his pall."

APPENDIX TO THE PRECEDING SECTION.

We will here make brief mention of the filling up of the
rank and file of the pet regiment on the plains, and some of
its duties since the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Of the
companies that were lost in that memorable battle, their
places were at once filled by officers who survived to com-
mand them, and were soon recruited to the maximum by
recruits sent forward from the East, who were recruited
with a special view to closing the Indian war in the north-
west, if possible. The field officers of the regiment that sur-
vived were veterans, and gallant and skillful men, who had
seen many a hard-fought battle, and had won laurels on
many a field, and lived only to take part in further opera-
tions to open and pave the way for civilization.

They had survived numerous battles during the war of
the late rebellion, and had experienced hard service on our
extreme frontier in subjugating the Indians, all the way from
tho Wichita mountains to the valley of the Little Big Horn,
where their gallant and chivalrous comrade, Lieutenant-

I

56 SUBJUGATING

Colonel Custer, fell at the head of their dashing and fearless
troopers. This regiment has been on duty at different mili-
tary stations — mostly in north-western Dakota — and gener-
ally commanded by its Lieutenant-Colonel, Elmer Otis, and
one or more of the Majors belonging to the regiment.

Brevet-Colonel Elmer Otis, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 7th
U. S. Cavalry, received his appointment from the military
academy at West Point before the war, and has been deserv-
edly promoted from time to time up to the assignment to
duty with this regiment. He is an industrious, zealous, and
faithful officer. He has been the commanding officer at Fort
Lincoln a greater portion of the time since his assignment
to duty with the 7th Cavalry. He is much admired as an
officer and a gentleman by his command, and in army cir-
cles as well as by the citizens in general.

Brevet- Colonel Joseph E. Tilford, the senior Major of the
7th Cavalry, was appointed from the military academy at
West Point in 1851. He has been a brave and faithful offi-
cer, and his conduct " was gallant and meritorious in the
battle of Valverde, N. M." He has been commanding offi-
cer at various military stations in north-western Dakota
since his regiment came to Fort Rice in 1873. He is really
the model and most gentlemanly Major in the U. S. Army.
His record as a military officer and a gentleman is too well
known to make mention at length in this volume. Suffice it
to say, that he is an excellent military adviser, one of the
best of disciplinarians, always having an eye to the morale
of the army.

Brevet-Brigadier-General Lewis Merrill, a Major in the 7th
Cavalry, has been in the service since July, 1855. He re-
ceived his appointment from the military academy at West
Point, and served with distinction all through the late war.
During the rebellion his services were specially gallant and
meritorious against the rebels in north Missouri, and in the
capture of Little Rock, Ark., also against the rebel forces in
north-western Georgia.

Major Merrill was well known through the late war as Col-
onel of one of the finest regiments of cavalry in the service,
" known as Merrill's Horse." Since the war he has filled

THE HOSTILES. 57

important military positions in various parts of the country,,
at times sitting as Judge Advocate on court martials.

As a military law officer, lie has no superior in this de-
partment, and we think we can safely say, no equal, unless it be
General Alfred H. Terry, the Department Commander. For
the past two seasons, he has had charge of protecting the
line of the Northern Pacific Kailroad from Bismarck, D. T.,
to Miles City, M. T. The main duty of his command has
been, and now is, to guard against roving bands of maraud-
ing Indians who infest the plains more or less, roaming from
one section of the country to another, more for the purpose
of stealing and running off stock, than to engage in actual
warfare. He is a thoroughly schooled and skilled officer,
and highly esteemed by all who know him.

Edward Ball, another Major of the " brave and intrepid
7th," joined his regiment in April, 1880. His career with
this regiment has been short, and but very little service in
the field has been performed since his assignment as one of
its Majors. He is a brave, skillful and gentlemanly officer,
and well worthy the uniform he wears, having served in the
regular army since 1844. His record for bravery, industry
and zeal stands among the first in the country.

Colonel Wm. Thompson, a retired officer from the 7th
Cavalry, is a sturdy Pennsylvanian, and a true type of the
American soldier and gentleman. At one time before the
war, he was Professor of Law and Science in an Institute
in his native State. Soon afterward he settled in Iowa and
represented the Keokuk, or Southern district of that State
in the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congress. Colonel Cork-
hill, the District Attorney at Washington, who has charge
of investigating " Giteau's case," was at one time a pupil
under this veteran officer. He served through the late war
with distinction, receiving promotion at different times for
gallant and meritorious service on various battle-fields, and
specially in the action of Prairie Grove and Bayou Meteo,
Ark. He has seen hard service in Indian warfare all the
wav from the Staked Plains to the headwaters of the Mis-
souri. He is a genial gentleman in and out of the army, and
devotes the greater portion of his time to matters pertaining

58 SUBJUGATING

to science, agriculture, and the general development of the
new northwest.

The people throughout the States and other countries can
now rest assured this section of our country, and more gener-
ally known as the new northwest, is in the hands of experi-
enced and well-disposed officers, who have the good of their
country at heart, as well as their own personal affairs, and
reputation for bravery and achievements. There are other
officers on the frontier t deserving of equal credit as those
above mentioned, but having been in fields at too great a
distance, the writer does not feel at liberty to make mention
of matters of fact as they have transpired, that he is not
quite familiar with.

Now that we have the unconditional surrender of Sitting
Bull and all of his war chiefs, the survivors of the 7th Cavalry,
as well as members of the other regiments in this depart-
ment, who have for many years defied the murderous hordes
of hostile savages, and who have fought as heroes fight, for
friends and home, country and fame, may well take a long
breath of great relief.

The writer is now waiting for a special messenger to arrive
from Fort Buford, in order to get a correct and full account
of the surrender of " the king of warriors," the wily Sitting
Bull, whose manoeuvering on the Plains, and in and out of
the bad lands, and whose aptness for Indian warfare has
attracted more attention than any other one person in the
country, except our suffering President, Mr. Garfield. We
will endeavor to present to the readers of this work a con-
cise and clear account of this important move on the part
of our red brother, who for many years has been the Stal-
wart of the Stalwart Warriors.

v>-

*■■ ■■*

CROW KING.

CHIEF W A HHIOK OF HITTINC HULL'S TEIBES

THE HOSTILES. 69

SECTION III.
THE SUBHEADER OF CROW KING.

CHAPTEE I.

The Kingly Warrior Surrenders to Major D. H. Brothertcm.

One of the most important events in recent military ope-
rations against the hostile Indians in the Northwest, was
the surrender of Crow King, a subordinate chief under Sit-
ting Bull, together with all his warriors, war ponies, guns,
old men, squaws, papooses and camp equipage, to Major D.
H. Brotherton, of the 7th United States Infantry, in the
Northwest, during the winter of 1880.

Crow King was in importance to Sitting Bull among the
Sioux warriors as Sheridan was to Grant in the late War of
the Rebellion. The surrender was received with great re-
joicing by both officers and men of the long-suffering army
of the frontier, and by the people of the land was hailed
with joy, as practically the close of the Indian War in the
Northwest.

Although popular rejoicing in this belief was premature —
Sitting Bull, with the main body of able-bodied hostiles,
with his usual good fortune or good generalship, having
eluded capture and escaped to the British lines — yet the
rank and importance of Crow King in the Sioux councils
was so great, his influence with the savage tribes under
Jrim being almost unbounded, that the effect of his retiring
with his people from the war-path was most salutary in the
cause of peace.

Among Indians of all tribes there are invariably found
a number of subordinate chiefs who really desire to remain
on the war-path, and nothing save actual suffering or ne-
cessity will ever persuade or force them to surrender. The
presence of a large force of troops in front of them, with

60 SUBJUGATING

starvation among their old men, women and children, are the
only arguments to which their stern natures are accessible.

In the case of Crow King and his warriors, they were
driven to extremities. In the dead of a severe winter, with-
out grass for their ponies, and insufficient shelter for their
families, with the thermometer 32 degrees below zero, there
was necessarily great suffering from cold and hunger
among the non-combatants of tho hostile camp. Food and
clothing were almost unobtainable in the field, and with the
British lines closed apparently against them, and a large
well-disciplined force of United States troops in front of
them, with ample supplies, and everything necessary to the
carrying on of a vigorous and successful campaign, their
alternative was to surrender or to suffer total annihilation.

Scarcely less than the Indians did the brave men of the
army suffer from cold and exposure during that fearful win-
ter's campaign. In the field without tents, with the ther-
mometer ranging from 32 to 44 degrees below zero, they
suffered intensely from cold and frost-bites. Yet, with the
usual stoicism and hardihood of the trained soldier, their suf-
ferings in these respects were borne uncomplainingly, and
with true heroism.

The representatives of the press, who, it must be ob-
served, invariably reach the front as soon as the army, were
on hand to chronicle the details of the surrender, and gave
to the representative papers of the East, full and graphic
accounts of the scenes in the field, and the solemn pow-wow
and dance after the surrender. The people of the country
are greatly interested in the development of the new North-
west, and consequently follow the operations of the troopa
on the frontier with friendly interest and anxiety ; no news is
more anxiously sought after or read with more avidity than
the published reports from the seat of the Indian wars.
Being desirous of seeing the country opened to settlement,
all measures tending to that end are eagerly seconded by
the people at large, and this is apparent in the universal
desire for correct information from the scene of army opera-
tions, against those terrible hindrances in the path of pro-
gress — the wild Indians of the plains.

THE HOSTTLE& 61

It was at first feared that the surrender of Crow King and
his band was not a permanent one ; that his warriors would
again seek the war-path in the early spring, when the grow-
ing grass would furnish sustenance for their ponies ; but it
soon became apparent that his personal surrender was made
in good faith — that he really desired to settle down on a
reservation and cultivate the arts of peace, in the company
of his old men, women, and children — a desire that, lauda-
ble as it was, may have originated from the fact that he was
sorely wounded, and barely able to sit on his horse. His
people had unbounded faith in him as a leader. The young
Graves of his tribe looked up to him with veneration, and
heeded his counsels, as became the loyal subjects of a brave
and kingly warrior. Although they acquiesced reluctantly
in the surrender, yet such was their loyalty to their leader,
that the United States officers, in charge of negotiations, had
little to fear from future treachery on the part of his follow-
ers, save only from a very few of the ugly, discontented, and
unconquerable warriors that are found attached to every
tribe, and who undoubtedly, when the favorable opportunity
came, would desert the reservation for the more congenial
^var-path.

The late action of the British authorities, in forbidding
ihem to seek shelter on Canadian soil, undoubtedly planted
the seeds of peace in the breast of many an unruly savage.
So long as the British lines were open to them, they could
penetrate into the United States, commit their bloody deeds
of rapine and cruelty, murdering white men and stealing
horses and other stock, then, when pursued, retreating into
the friendly shelter of the Queen's dominions, knowing that
the avenging feet of their pursuers must be stayed at the
border line, as the Government troops could not invade
Canadian soil without interference with international law,
which would doubtless be quickly resented by the Domin-
ion authority. But when this friendly shelter was closed
against them, and food and clothing gave out ; when the win-
ter snows descended, and the wild winds blew fierce and
strong across the wide prairies of the West, then many a
plumed warrior's heart grew weak ; and as he beheld the

62 SUBJUGATING

armed force of dauntless troops under the brave Major G.
Hges, of the 5th XJ. S. Infantry, arrayed against their weak
and shivering band, there came upon them a desire for a
cessation of hostilities. They hungered again for the " flesh-
pots " of the Indian Agency, and meekly submitted to the
inevitable, accepting the situation with the coolness and
philosophy characteristic of Indian nature.

The surrender of Gall to Major Guido Hges, of the 5th U.
S. Infantry, is of equal importance in this campaign, and
more so than that of any other chief under Sitting Bull, ex-
cept Crow King. He was really the Kilpatrick of the whole
Sioux nation. Major Ilges found this daring and reckless
warrior occupying a strong position in the timber near Pop-
ular Creek Agency. After making a demand for a formal
surrender, which was at first stubbornly refused by Gall, he
opened fire from his Gatling guns, together with several vol-
leys of musketry.

It was but a short time before an unconditional surrender
was effected. During these operations against the " Wily
Gall," on the part of Major Ilges, the chief warrior, " Crow
King," was an attentive witness, standing on the roof of the
trader's store at the Popular River Agency, and, strange as it
may seem, not only sanctioned, but encouraged in every way
possible, Major Ilges in forcing this surrender, as he could
not move his own lodges into the Agency until Gall and his
warriors were out of the wav.

CHAPTER II.

The Surrender.

As the terms of his surrender, Crow King demanded 160
acres of land for every man, woman and child belonging to
his tribe. He also asked that school-houses might be built
for the children, and the money obtained from the sale of
Indian lands devoted to this purpose, and to the education
of his people. There was no doubt of his earnestness in
the. matter. The officers in the field, of course, could prom-
ise him nothing more than that his requests should be laid
before the proper authorities in Washington. This, for &

CHIEF GAUL.

THE GREAT RAIDER OF THE 8IOOX NATION.

THE HOSTILES. 63

time, gave rise to angry feelings among the warriors, par-
ticularly among the young chiefs. They stated emphati-
cally that if they could not have the land, as requested by
their head chief, they would prefer to brave starvation and
roam over the plains, and occasionally join a war-party of
hostiles. The influence of Crow King, aided doubtless by
the cold weather and the scarcity of provisions, quieted these
malcontents, and they finally agreed to throw themselves on
the generosity of the Great Father at Washington, and abide
by his decision, agreeing to accept and settle upon the reser-
vation allotted to them by the government, and to take an
interest in farming, stock-raising, and educating their chil-
dren. Crow King was growing old, and was enfeebled from
his wounds. These facts doubtless tended to convince him
that it was greatly to his interest, as well as for the future
welfare of his people, to settle down upon a reservation, and
conform to the rules and regulations of the government.
As for the young warriors, while outwardly acquiescing in
the military plans for their future usefulness, it was doubt-
less with a mental reservation that when the little exigency
of war, in which they were unwilling participants, had been
safely passed, and the genial summer breezes came again,
they would lightly scatter off to join the war-parties on the
wild prairies in their raids on frontier settlers. Some pos-
sibly were laying plans to go to Arizona and New Mexico,
while others may have thought to join the untamed Coman-
ches and Kiowas in the southern Indian country.

But whatever may havo been the secret thoughts and pur-
poses of the discomfited warriors at the formal surrender of
their chief to the military, they deported themselves in the
highest style of Indian etiquette, prescribed by custom from
time immemorial for such interesting occasions. Tricked
out in their finest paint and feathers, gorgeous in war-bon-
nets of snowy eagle's feathers, adorned with beads, and their
half-naked, tawny figures glittering with savage gew-gaws,
and mounted on ponies whose emaciated forms were decked
with gaudy colors, they bore themselves with a lofty dignity
and grave hauteur befitting to a race of royal blood.

Tet was there a ludicrous element in the pathetic affair.

64 SUBJUGATING

The picture of the defeated savages surrendering their arms
And ponies, as an act of special grace to their powerful cap-
tors, and gravely dictating the terms of . surrender, demand-
ing cattle and sheep in payment for their ponies, was a sin-
gular one ; and a somewhat ridiculous effect of the policy of
the Government in treating the savages like spoiled children.
" Til be good, if you'll give me a stick of candy ; if you don't,
Til be terribly naughty," is the childlike argument em-
ployed by the anomalous creations of nature, alternately
known as wards and dependents of the Government, and
anon figuring as " prisoners of war." The policy adopted
by the Government, of first yielding to their insolent de-
mands, then punishing them for disobedience ; again coax-
ing, petting, and bribing them into good behavior ; then
again administering deserved chastisement ; and still again
resorting to bribes and presents to coax them into submis-
sion, is a course that would speedily make an end of family
government ; and it is not to be wondered at that the un-
sophisticated red children of nature should imbibe false and
mistaken ideas relative to the strength and good judgment
of the Great Father at Washington.

After the formal surrender had been effected, with all the
"" pomp and circumstance " of Indian finery and display, and
the terms of capitulation agreed upon by the commandant
of the troops and Crow King (through an interpreter), in a
council of his warriors, in which the captive chieftain as-
sumed to himself great credit for gracefully submitting to
the inevitable, and leading his half-famished people to the
military lines, a grand " pow-wow " and peace dance was held
in honor of the event. Rations were divided by the soldiers
with the prisoners, and every effort made by the humane
commander of the troops to make comfortable the squaws
and papooses, together with the sick and helpless of the late
hostile camp. Wagon transportation was furnished them
to Fort Buford, D. T., where they were comfortably garri-
soned.

The eloquent plea of the savage warrior, that " the white
man has kept pushing, and driving, and fighting the red
man all around and all around, and all over the prairie, until
he has no place to go," is surely a weighty one.

THE H0ST1LES. 65

Would that the government of the best and most enlight-
ened nation on the face of the globe would reform its mode
of treatment of these " wayward children of the forest," who,
in their inmost hearts, are bloodthirsty assassins and mur-
derers, yet who are entitled to ordinary justice in business
transactions.

It is a standing disgrace to our civilization to alternately
whip, cheat, bribe, and coax. Treaties should not be made
with them ; but, if made, should be religiously kept.

At present writing the Indian problem in the great North-
west is still unsolved. God grant a fair and speedy solution.

66 SUBJUGATING

SECTION IV.

THE SURRENDER OF SITTING BULL.
(TA-TON-E^-I-Y-A-TON-E^.)

CHAPTEE L

As a happy finale to the series of sanguinary chapters and
exciting incidents of savage warfare in the Northwest, the
author is pleased to append a brief resume of the career of
Sitting Bull, the monarch of the hostiles, and leader of
their lawless bands through nearly twenty years of continu-
ous warfare with the whites ; a career distinguished above
that of his fellow-hostiles for murder and rapine, yet which
terminated unexpectedly in his bloodless surrender to Major
Brotherton, of the regular army, July 19th, 1881.

Of the early life of Sitting Bull, little is known ; yet there
is no question of his having been at war with the whites
since 1862, and during all the period intervening between
that date and his recent surrender, he has been a steady
annoyance in the field to the army, and constant source of
terror and anxiety to the isolated settlers on the remote
frontier. All the way from Yankton to the headquarters of
the Missouri, he left traces of his presence in bloodshed and
burnings. In the year 1865, a passenger on the steamer
" Effie Deans," en route to Fort Benton, relates that when at
Bound Butte, Montana, about six hundred miles by river
below Benton, the steamer was fired upon from a hunting
camp, comprising about three thousand souls, of whom
eight hundred were warriors, of Sitting Bull's tribe. Four
days previously the steamer " General Grant" had passed up >
several shots were fired into the boat, and four men were
killed Sitting Bull is supposed to have been encamped at
this place some two months, this being a favorite place of
resort for buffalo, elk and other wild game, and here for

JX

'- ^ A ^ s e

I

I I

I '

I

I .

I

i !

if
ill

THE H08TTLE& 67

years the Sioux, under Sitting Bull and his associate chiefs,
had repaired in the hunting season to seek the spoils of the
chase.

Sitting Bull's record, from the earliest date of which men-
tion is made of him, is that of a vindictive and determined
enemy of the white man, yet, previously to the year 1866, he
had not attained distinction above his fellow chiefs, or gained
a tithe of the overshadowing fame that has placed his name
on the highest pinnacle of savage greatness.

In the year 1866, Sitting Bull, a warrior of the Uncapapa
Sioux, attained wide-spread notoriety throughout the fron-
tier posts and settlements, by means of his murderous raids
and savage cruelties. From that time he has held high
rank as a leader of the hostile Sioux — revered by his own
people as a skillful general, wise in council and powerful in
war, and dreaded by the whites as a cruel and relentless
enemy. Of late years, a series of uninterrupted successes
in the field, culminating in the Custer massacre of 1876, gave
him a prominence not hitherto enjoyed by any hostile chief,
and rendered his name a familiar but dreaded household
word in every hamlet in America. Sitting Bull was thought
to be invincible, hence his recent surrender, brought about
though it was by the subtle agencies of want and hunger,
aided as it was by the firm attitude of the Canadian author-
ities, who refused longer to permit his followers to come
and go at pleasure upon British soil, was a surprise as un-
expected as it was agreeable to the country at large.

The bulk of our present adult aboriginal population were
born in savagery, and have lived in savagery. Try as they
will, they cannot entirely subdue the savage instincts to
roam at will, to defy restraint, and to inAulge their lawless
appetites for blood and plunder. Sitting Bull's influence
for evil among all the aboriginal tribes had been unbounded.
He had ever made it his boast that he would never go upon
a reservation or make peace with the whites. — a resolution
to which he tenaciously adhered. His nomadic and unre-
strained life of freedom on the plains was a constant lure to
those Indians who, though settled upon agencies, and os-
tensibly engaged in cultivating the arts of peace, yet could

68 SUBJUGATING

not wholly conquer the natural savage longing for a life of
unrestrained and careless liberty. His camp-fires in the
wild fastnesses of the far Northwest were alluring lights to
the wild and restless spirits, whose untamed natures chafed
and fretted under the unwonted restraint of agency rule.
His bold example inspired the pining warriors on the reser-
vations to break away from the civilizing influences there
brought to bear upon him, and to seek by his council-fires
in the wilderness pursuits moje congenial.

With the freshening of the grass in the spring, large num-
bers of the young and able-bodied warriors of the tribes
confined at the various Indian agencies on the Missouri,
would set forth to join his lawless hordes on their annual
round of plunder, and under cover of his name to prey upon
the exposed settlements, and destroy the lives of any luck-
less whites who, by chance, came within the scope of their
operations.

It had long been a recognized fact, both in the Military
and Interior Departments, that an Indian absent without
leave from his proper reservation, was necessarily an Indian
hostile, de facto and de jure ; and since it was manifestly im-
possible to prevent the agency Sioux from slipping away
during the season of buffalo hunting, and attaching them-
selves to the hostile forces, the capture of Sitting Bull, or
the breaking up of his hostile rendezvous in the Northwest,
became a strategic measure of overshadowing importance
in all plans devised by the military authorities for subju-
gating, or by the officials of the Interior Department for
benefiting and civilizing the Indians.

Mutual plans were devised by both Departments to rem-
edy the grave evil# arising from Agency Indians rallying to
the medicine banner of Sitting Bull, and sharing with his
restless followers the spoils and plunder of the war-path;
but all to no avail. The evil increased alarmingly. The Mis-
souri River Agencies became but bases of supplies for Sit-
ting Bull's insolent army, from whence were drawn, by the
hands of professedly peaceful Indians, arms and munitions
of war, clothing, and provisions. The ranks of the hostiles
were increased to an unusual extent during the hunting sea-

THE H08TILLS. 69

son, by the accession of large numbers of able-bodied war-
riors, whose winter subsistence was derived from the bounty
of the government. Those who remained upon the reser-
vations evinced a* uneasy and discontented spirit, until, at
length, the signs of disaffection at the larger Agencies, such
as Standing Rock, Spotted Tail, Red Cloud, etc., containing
then some 40,000 Indians, became so marked that a general
outbreak was feared, unless steps were promptly taken to
subdue the outlaws under Sitting Bull, and compel them to
settle down upon some designated spot, to be selected by
the government. Accordingly, in December, 1875, the Sec-
retary of the Interior notified the hostiles that they must,
before the close of the following January, come into the re-
servations, " or a military force would be sent out to com-
pel them to come in." This peremptory order was met with
the scorn and defiance that had characterized the demeanor
of the hostiles in all their communications with the white
man's government. As a last recourse, therefore, on the ex-
piration of the stated time, the Secretary of War was form-
ally notified that these Indians were turned over to* the mil-
itary authorities, for such action as might be deemed proper
for their subjugation and chastisement.

The campaign of 1876 was then organized by General
Sheridan, on the plan already described at some length in
this volume, by which, in the simultaneous movement of
three distinct columns from Montana, Dakota, and the
Platte, toward a common centre, where was supposed to be lo-
cated the camp of the hostiles, a crushing blow could be ad-
ministered to the forlorn hope of savage obduracy, seeking
to escape the fate that had been decreed to the red man in
the remnants of his once wide domain, the alternative of
either civilization or extermination. The movements of
these columns, the repulse of General Crook, and the tragic
death of General Custer and his men, which formed the bit-
ter fruits of this unfortunate expedition, have been already
described in detail in these pages. Suffice it, then, to say,
that, after the battle, the victorious savages proceeded north-
ward, and crossed the boundary line into the Dominion of
Canada, and quartered themselves upon the bounty of her

70 SUBJUGATING

Majesty the Queen of England. Here Sitting Bull and his
followers remained in peace through the following year, re-
fusing the overtures of Chief Joseph to take part in the Nez
Perces campaign of 1877. In the stirring events of that
campaign, the opening fight at Big Hole, Howard's long and
arduous pursuit, and final success, with Miles' aid, in cap-
turing Joseph and his band, together with the later fight at
Bear-Paw Mountain, between Lame Deer, a Sioux, and the
troops under General Miles, engrossed, for a time, public
attention, and the conqueror of Custer was left to his repose.
But not long did quiet reign.

The followers of the stoic chieftain began to cross the lines,
commit depredations on the people of Montana, and elude
capture and punishment by escaping to their leader's camp
at Wood Mountain. . Grave questions of international law
now puzzled the authorities at Washington, and to avoid
complications with a border territory, as well as to insure
protection to the helpless settlers south of the Canadian
boundary line, it was decided to make an effort to effect
by diplomacy what force of arms had failed to bring about,
and to send, to treat with Sitting Bull, a commission of such
dignity and character, that he would necessarily be con-
vinced of the truth and reliability of its promises and pre-
sentations.

Leave was accordingly obtained from the British authori-
ties for the entrance of the commission into the Canadian
territory. The followers of Sitting Bull at this time com-
prised but a moiety of those who had participated in the
Custer massacre, many of the warriors who had there glut-
ted their fiendish thirst for blood and torture having re-
turned to the agencies to which they belonged, and wwe
there re-enacting the role of good Indians, by submissively
devouring the rations issued by a magnanimous govern-
ment to its " wayward children."

The Peace Commission to Sitting Bull was composed of
General A. H. Terry, the commander of the defeated Dakota
column in the campaign of the previous year, and Hon. A.
G. Lawrence, of Massachusetts. The embassy proceeded
with an escort to the British line, and were there met by a

THE HOSTILES. 71

^battalion of the Northwestern mounted police, who guided
them to Fort Walsh — and here was presented the extraordi-
nary spectacle of a powerful government sending overtures
of peace and reconciliation to the leading outlaw and free-
booter of the country, by the hand of the military commander
whose troops he had defeated by force of arms. Much
trouble was experienced in obtaining the consent of Sitting
Bull and his leading chiefs to an interview ; but this was
finally gained through the intercession of the British officers
at the fort, and on the 17th of October an interview was held
within the limits of the fort.

The renegade chieftain received his distinguished visitors
with every mark of savage discourtesy. He haughtily re-
fused their proffered hands, demanded that they should not
sit behind the table, at which they had seated themselves,
and sneeringly told them to speak the truth to the assem-
bled chiefs. The ambassadors, on* behalf of their govern-
ment, then presented the reasons why the hostiles should
<5ease their hostile acts, return to the United States, and join
the agencies.

The honorable treatment meted out to the tribes who had
surrendered, the ever-recurring bounty of the government,
the daily rations and frequent gifts, were painted in glowing
colors.

It was promised to the Canadian refugees, on behalf of
the United States Government, that no harm should befall
Any of their number who would consent to cross the line,
and peacefully take up their abode at any of the agencies.
Not only would they be protected from harm, but many
favors and privileges would be granted them; while the
proceeds from the sale of their ponies and arms, which
they would be required to surrender, would be applied to
their benefit. These proposals were rejected emphatically
and insolently, and the commission was, so far as any good
results were attained, a complete failure.

During the remainder of that, and of the following year
{1878), Sitting Bull and his band remained quietly on the
northern side of the boundary line, only a few of his war-
riors occasionally crossing to American soil in pursuit of

72 SUBJUGATING

buffalo, and their stay was never prolonged. Reports of his.
coming in force were, however, frequently rife among the
frontiersmen, and in the summer a reconnoissance of troops
in force was made north of the Missouri, without result,
however, and as the hostiles seemed inclined to keep the
peace, and remain permanently north of the line, operations
against them were, for the time, suspended, by order of Gen-
eral Sherman. Trouble with the Bannock Indians having
then arisen, and the hostile remnant of the Nez Perces mak-
ing demonstrations of hostilities, Sitting Bull once more
dropped out of public notice.

For the protection of the settlers in northern Montana, a
cordon of forts had been commenced in 1877, which were
now nearly completed, and there was every reason to believe
that the former scene of the Sioux troubles — the valley of
the Yellowstone and its tributaries — would not be again
entered by them. But north of their former field of opera-
tions they could roam unrestrainedly, while the stores of
government supplies at Poplar River and other outlying
posts were never safe from their raids.

In the opening of the year 1879 a panic prevailed among
the white settlers near the border, in consequence of large
bands of Sitting Bull's Indians crossing the line and com-
mitting depredations, killing the cattle of the settlers, steal-
ing horses, etc. General Miles was accordingly sent to take
the field, with troops sufficient to repel and overcome any
body of Indians, however large ; and on the 12th of July he
crossed to the northern bank of the Missouri with his com-
mand, in the vicinity of Old Fort Reck, and five days later
the advance detachment, under Lieutenant Clark, struck a,
large body of Indians between Beaver Creek and Milk River,
and a spirited skirmish ensued. Sitting Bull was in com-
mand in person, and the battle would have ended disas-
trously for the whites, as they were largely outnumbered —
but on the near approach of the main body of the troops he
prudently withdrew to the north bank of Milk River, thence
retreating to the British possessions. Many Indians were
captured in the retreat, and the operations of that summer
were attended with gratifying results. The bands of half-

THE HOSTILES. 73

"breeds, who had by their nefarious traffic with the hostiles
kept them well supplied with arms and ammunition, were
either captured or dispersed, and their traffic broken up.
On the 28th of July, Long Dog, an emissary from Sitting
Bull's camp, reported that the hostiles had elected to remain
permanently north of the line, and General Miles was as-
sured by the commandant of the mounted police that no
further apprehension need be entertained of hostile raids —
assurances which the facts in the end fully justified.

During the summer of 1880, there were a few isolated
cases of murder and theft, in which the hand of the Sioux
was apparent ; but the surrender to General Miles, in the
autumn, of the notorious Rain-in-the-Face, with many
other chiefs and thousands of their followers, virtually set-
tled the Indian problem in the Northwest.

When Rain-in-the-Face crossed the line and surrendered,
Gaul and his followers crossed also, but the latter went to
Poplar Creek instead of Fort Keogh, and though at first ex-
pressing a willingness to surrender, he delayed from time to
time, until January 2d, 1881, he yielded to the persuasions
o£ Colonel Ilges and his frost-bitten soldiers, and a few shots
from his Gatling guns, and gave himself up. Crow King had
previously surrendered, and Sitting Bull was left alone in his
glory, and with a handful of dispirited followers, in his old
retreat at Wood Mountain. He, too, now submits to the in-
evitable, recognizing in the rapid development of the North-
west country, the signs of the inevitable fate that thrusts
upon the red man the alternative of civilization or extermi-
nation. With «his handful of half- starved followers, he
reluctantly accepts the bounty of the government he has so
long defied, yet remjains sullen and defiant to the last.

Through the efforts of the scout, Louis Legare, mainly,
the once powerful chieftain of the Sioux was induced to
come into the lines and surrender to the military, kind
treatment and immunity from punishment for his past mis-
deeds having been previously guaranteed him. With the
last remnant of his people, some two hundred souls, old
men, women and children, the old war-chief arrived at Fori
Buford, Dakota, at noon, on July 19th, 1881. At the head

74 SUBJUGATING

of the mournful cortege rode Sitting Bull, Four Horns, Red
Thunder and other sub- chiefs, on their war ponies, and
following came six army wagons loaded with the squaws and
children, and behind them came some twenty-five of Louis
Xiegare's Red River carts, containing their baggage.

They presented a forlorn and pitiful appearance — the
great Sitting Bull himself being very dirty and very hungry,
his face wearing a sullen, bull-dog expression, his dress and
appearance bearing marks of the hardships and destitution
he has recently experienced. Yet, until called upon to sur-
render his arms, he preserved under this, the most trying
ordeal to a savage, a dignified and unbroken silence. Thus
•ended the war in the Northwest The closing of the five
years' campaign against the most remarkable leader of mod-
ern times is tersely chronicled in the following official dis-
patches :

Fort Buford, D. T., July 14, 1881.— Gen. A. H. Terry,
•Commanding Department Dakota, Fort Snelling : Just re-
ceived a dispatch from Legare, dated 12th inst.; says he is
en route with Sitting Bull, Four Horns and Red Thunder;
in all, 6 chiefs, 40 families — about 200 in all, men, women
and children. He says they came from Lake Qu'Appelle,
starving. Will send in this morning to meet them with
rations. Messenger says they are about sixty miles out.
(Signed) D. H. Brotherton, Maj. 7th Infantry, Com.

Fort Buford, D. T., July 19. — Gen. A. H. Terry, Com-
manding Department of Dakota, Fort Snelling : Sitting Bull
and his followers surrendered to me at noon to-day.

(Signed) D. H. Brotherton, Maj. 7th Infantry, Com.

While the last act of the drama, the final scene in Sitting
Bull's career as a warrior, was enacted at noon on July 20th,
when, by the hand of his little son, he delivered to Major
Brotherton the rifle he had carried throughout so many
bloody fields. This being done, the great chieftain spoke as
follows :

"I surrender this rifle to you through my young son, whom
I now desire to teach in this manner that he has become a
friend of the Americans. I wish him to learn the habits of

THE HOSTILES. 75

the whites and to be educated as their sons are educated. I
wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe
to surrender my rifle. This boy has given it to you, and he
now wants to know how he is going to make a living. What-
ever you have to give- or whatever you have to say, I would
like to receive or hear now, for I don't wish to be kept in
darkness longer. I have sent several messengers in here
from time to time, but none of them have returned with
news. The other chiefs, Crow King and Gaul, have not want-
ed me to come, and I have never received good news from
here. I now wish to be allowed to live this side of the line
or the other, as I see fit. I wish to continue my old life of
lunting, but would like to be allowed to trade on both sides
of the line. This is my country, and I don't wish to be com-
pelled to give it up. My heart was very sad at having to
leave the great mother's country. She has been a friend to
me, but I want my children to grow up in our native country,
and I also wish to feel that I can visit two of my friends on
the other side of the line, viz.: Major Walsh and Captain
McDonald, whenever I wish, and would like to trade with
Louis Legare, as he has always been a friend to me. I wish
to have all my people live together upon one reservation of
our own on the Little Missouri. I left several families at
Wood Mountain and between there and Qu'Appelle. I have
many people among the Yanktonais at Poplar Creek, and
I wish all them and those who have gone to Standing Rock
to be collected together upon one reservation. My people
liave many of them been bad. All are good now that their
arms and ponies have been taken from them. (Speaking to
Major Brotherton):

" You own this ground with me, and we must try and help
^ach other. I do not wish to leave here until I get all the
people I left behind and the Uncapapas now at Poplar Creek.
I would like to have my daughter, who is now at Fort Yates,
sent up here to visit me, as also eight men now there (men-
tioning their names), and I would like to know that Louis
Legare is to be rewarded for his services in bringing me and
my people in here."

Sitting Bull and his people have been sent to the Indian

76 SUBJUGATING

Agency of Standing Rock, Dakota, on the Missouri River,
where Rain-in-the-Face, Gaul, Long-Dog and other chiefs of
his tribe, with their followers, have preceded him.

At this agency there are now fully 7,000 Indians, and
though "finis " may now be appended to the last chapter of
the history of the Indian wars in the Northwest, yet, in
dealing with these pent-up savages, soothing the malcon-
tents, and restraining the unruly spirits there confined from
deeds of violence, in helping and instructing those suscepti-
ble of civilizing influences, and benefiting and christian-
izing all, the Interior Department has a task as weighty, a
labor as arduous, and a problem more puzzling, than that
just worked out by the military, in their subjugation and
capture.

CHAPTER n.

Officers in the Field against Sitting BuU since 1872.

The commanding officer of the Department of Dakota,
Brevet-Major-General Alfred H. Terry, is one of the Briga-
dier-Generals in the regular army. He entered the volunteer
service at the beginning of the late civil war, in 1861, as
Colonel of the 2d Connecticut Volunteers. In 1862 he was
promoted to a Brigadier-General, and in 1864 to a Major-
General of Volunteers, and in 1835 he was made a Brigadier-
General in the regular army. In accepting his commission
he also received the following, which Congress, by joint
resolution, passed as a vote of thanks to him and the officers
under his command : " For the unsurpassed gallantry and
skill exhibited by them in the attack upon Fort Fisher, and
the brilliant and decisive victory by which that important
work has been captured from the Rebel forces, and placed
in the possession and under the authority of the United
States, and for their long and faithful services and unswerv-
ing devotion to the cause of the country in the midst of its
greatest difficulties and dangers." He was made a Brevet-
Major-General in 1886, for gallant and meritorious services
in the capture of Wilmington, North Carolina. He has been

THE HOSTELES. 77

in command of this military department since 1873, and the
country has been fully advised at various times in regard
to important operations against the hostiles. He needs no
comment nor compliment from our pen.

Of the officers who have been stationed on the extreme
frontier of civilization at times during the past ten years,
for the purpose of opening and protecting the new North-
west, we will make mention, in order to more fully explain
to our readers that the work has not been confined to a very
small number of officers, and that several of our best regi-
ments have been brought to the front to take part in con-
quering the Sioux warriors. Among the first that were in
command was Brigadier-General W. B. Hazen, recently pro-
moted from the colonelcy of the 6th United States Infantry,
And now chief signal officer. He was made a Brevet-Major-
General in 1865.

He was appointed from the military academy at West
Point in 1859. In 1859 he was promoted for gallant conduct
in several engagements with Indians in Texas. During the
war he was promoted at different, times for gallant and meri-
torious services in the battles of Chickamauga, Ga., Chatta-
nooga, Tenn.; in the capture of Atlanta, Ga., and Fort McAl-
lister, Ga., and. for long and continued service of the highest
character, and for special gallantry and service at Fort
McAllister. In his promotion the infantry lost one of its
ablest commanders, and one of the most gentlemanly officers
in the service of the United States ; but the Signal Service
gains one of the brightest stars in the constellation at
Washington.

Daniel Huston, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 6th Infantry,
was appointed from the military academy at West Point in
1848. At the beginning of the late war he was distinguished
in the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., for gallant conduct
He was promoted for special gallant and meritorious service
during the siege of Vicksburg, and later, for gallant and
meritorious service during the war. During his service in
this department he was in command at Forts Buford and
Stevenson. He is highly esteemed by the old pioneers and
citizens throughout the Northwest.

78 SUBJUGATING

Brevet-Colonel Orlando H. Moore, Major of the 6tli In-
fantry, entered the regular army in 1856. Was appointed
from the State of Michigan. He was promoted at different
times during the war for gallant and meritorious services,
and for special gallantry in action at Tebbs Bend, Ky. He
has done most excellent service in the Northwest in bring-
ing the hostiles in, and is not only one of the bravest of the
brave, but is a most courteous and faithful officer.

Brevet-Major-General David S. Stanley, Colonel of the
22d Infantry, was among the first to have a command in the
Northwest, after the right of way was granted to the North-
ern Pacific Bailroad. He was appointed to the regular army
from the military academy at West Point in 1852. He was
among the most distinguished officers in the war of the re-
bellion, and received rapid promotion for gallant and meri-
torious services in the battles of Stone Biver, Tenn.; Besaca,.
Ga.. ^ufPs Station, Ga.; and Franklin, Tenn.

He commanded the ^reat expedition in 1873, from Forts
Bice and Lincoln, that penetrated farther into the hitherto
unknown western wilds than ever our army had been before.
The trail he made has since been known as " the Stanley-
trail," and has, more or lesb, been a guide to the engineers
and pioneers in locating a permanent line for the Northern
Pacific Bailroad from the Missouri Biver to Pompey's Pil-
lar, in the headwaters of the Yellowstone. The 22d Infantrjr
did most excellent and hard service, both officers, and men,
while stationed at different military posts in this depart-
ment.

Brevet-Brigadier-General Thomas L. Crittenden, Colonel
of the 17th Infantry, came with his regiment to this depart-
ment in an early day, which can now be looked upon as the
veteran regiment in the Northwest. General Crittenden was
a Major-General of Volunteers during the war, and has had
vast experience in military as well as in political affairs in
his own State. He was promoted for gallant and meritori-
ous service in the battle of Stone Biver, Tenn. Ever zeal-,
ous, and one of the best military advisers and administra-
tive officers in the Northwest.

W. P. Carlin, Lieut. -Colonel of the 17th Infantry, was &

THE HOSTILES. 79

Brevet-Major-General in the late civil war, and was pro-
moted at different times for gallant and meritorious services
in the battles of Chattanooga, Tenn. ; Jonesboro', Ga. ; and
Bentonville, N. C. He entered the regular army from the
Military Academy at West Point, in 1850. He has been
commanding officer at various military stations in Dakota
Territory, and, until quite recently, at Fort Yates, or more
generally known to the outside world as the Standing Rock
Agency. He is a strictly moral and temperate man, and his
duties have at times been onerous, but his official career has
always been approved by the Lieut. -General and General of
the Army.

Robert E. A. Crofton, previous to 1879, was the Major of
the 17th Infantry, while he was serving in this department
in earlier days. He was promoted at different times during
the war of secession, for gallant and meritorious services in
the battles of Shiloh, Tenn ; Chickamauga, Ga. ; and Mission.
Ridge, Tenn. He is now Lieut. -Colonel of the 13th Infantry*
He is not only a brave, but a model and gentlemanly officer*

The 2d U. S. Cavalry has been on duty in this department
since 1876, stationed at Forts Custer and Keogh, Montana
Territory. Brevet-Major-General Johli W. Davidson was
Colonel of the regiment from March, 1879, up to the time of
his death in St. Paul, but a few days since. He was ap-
pointed to the regular army from the Military Academy at
West Point, in 1845. He was promoted at different times
during the war of the rebellion, for gallant and meritorious
services in the battles of Gaines Mill, Va. ; Golding's Farm,
Va. ; and the capture of Little Rock, Ark. He was a strict
disciplinarian, and did much to elevate the morale of the
army. He died a few days since in St. Paul, Minn., while
en route east to recuperate his broken health. By his death
the cavalry loses one of its ablest commanders, the army
one of its noblest veterans, and his bereaved family a kind-
hearted husband and father. The other field officers of this
regiment have experienced equally as hard service as those
of other regiments, and have displayed great energy and
skill in bringing this Indian war to a close. Their service
in the field has been in the extreme Northwest, at times near
the British Possessions.

80 SUBJUGATING

In 1876, after the battles of the Little Big Horn, this de-
partment was reinforced by the 5th XJ. S. Infantry, com-
manded by Brig. -General Nelson A. Miles, then Colonel of
the regiment. He has deservedly been promoted for special
gallant and meritorious conduct in the Northwest. By his
promotion the infantry loses a brilliant eagle, but the list of
Brigadiers gains a bright star. It was through his general-
ship that Chief Joseph and his band were captured.

Brevet-Brig. -General Joseph Whistler, the Lieut.-CoL of
the 5th Infantry, has a record well known. He entered the
regular army from the Military Academy at West Point in
1846. He was promoted for gallantry on the battle-field of
Cherubusco, in the Mexican War, and again promoted for
gallant and meritorious services in front of Petersburg, Va.
He has been in command at Fort Keogh most of the time
since it was built, and has also taken no little part in active
field operations in forcing Sitting Bull and his warriors to
their final surrender. He is genial as he Is brave, and
always in good humor. Western people will always hail
with joy the veteran " General Joseph Whistler."

The 7th U. S. Infantry has done long and effective service
in the Northwest under command of Brevet-Major-General
John Gibbon, its brave and popular Colonel. For the past
several years a greater portion of the regiment have been
serving in Western Montana.

General John Gibbon entered the regular army by ap-
pointment from the Military Academy at West Point in
July, 1847. He was assigned to duty in the 4th Artillery,
and during the late civil war he was promoted to a Major-
General of Volunteers, and special promotion from time to
time for gallant and meritorious service in the battles of
Antietam, Md.; Fredericksburg, Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Spott-
sylvania, Va.; and in the capture of Petersburg, Va. He is
an excellent administrative military officer, and his services
have been invaluable in the Northwest, having taken an
active part in several important expeditions against the hos-
tile Sioux.

The Lieut. -Colonel of this regiment, Chas. C. Gilbert, was
appointed to the regular army from the Military Academy

THE HOSTILES. 81

at West Point in July, 1846, and in the late civil war was
promoted to a Brig. -General of Volunteers. He was distin-
guished for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of
Shiloh, Tenn.; Richmond, Ky.; Springfield, Mo.; Pittsburg
Landing, Tenn.; and in the battle of Perry ville, Ky. He now
commands at the Standing Bock Indian Agency, on the Mis-
souri River, and more recently known as Fort Yates. About
seven thousand Indians are located at this agency, under the
immediate charge of Major McLaughlin, well known in
Dakota Territory as an experienced and efficient Indian
agent He is assisted by the Rev. Father Chrysostrom, a
Catholic missionary, who has done good work in the way of
organizing schools at different stations in the Northwest. It
is expected that Sitting Bull will be sent to this agency in a
Tery few days.

David H. Brotherton is the Major of the 7th Infantry,
having commenced his career in the regular army in July,
1854, after graduating at the Military Academy at West
Point. He was distinguished at different times for gallant
conduct during the war of the rebellion, and particularly in
the battle of Valverde, N. M. In his knowledge and judg-
ment of Indian affairs he stands pre-eminent ; and in the
general management of the wild and untamed tribes, he has
no superior among the field officers in this department. Dur-
ing the past winter, and up to the present time, it has been his
decree to take an active part in negotiating with and forcing
Sitting Bull and his followers to this final surrender. It was
Major Brotherton who compelled the surrender of " Crow
King, chief warrior of Sitting Bull's tribes," last January,
At Fort Buford.

"Crow King," to use an army phrase, was the Lieut-
General of the Sioux warriors, under the leadership of Sit-
ting Bull. He surrendered, however, under the most earnest
protestations, and against the positive orders of Sitting Bull
The fact is, he could no longer stem the tide of coming events
that were destined to roll against him. The almost naked
and half-starved condition of his old men, women and chil-
dren, together with the gallant and intrepid Major Ilges,
with his " veteran and brave frost-bitten blue-coats," " Qager

82 SUBJUGATING

for the fray," arrayed against him, were the real causes
which led to his unconditional surrender. The capture of
this indefatigable and uncompromising warrior was the
breaking of the backbone of the Indian Tfrar in the Sioux
nation, and the country at large extends a vote of thanks to
the veteran Majors Ilges and Brotherton for their energy
and unswerving perseverance in effecting this surrender.

Capt. Thos. B. Dewees, of the 2d Cavalry, also took an
active part in this surrender, marching from Fort Keogh
with his troop, most of the time in snow knee-deep, with
more or less suffering from frost-bites, and at one time being
compelled to place 48 men of his troop in the hospital.

He, together with his troop, are entitled to great credit
for their personal bravery and enduring the hardships of
that winter's campaign. Not until about this time did Chief
Gaul make up his mind that he had be'tter begin to make
his peace with the Federal authorities. In a message to
Major Ilges at one time, he stated in his dignified but insult-
ing manner, quite characteristic with war chiefs, that the
white dog soldiers would not fight in the winter — too cold
weather — they cried too much — placing his fingers on his
face and eyes, showing how the tears would trickle down
their faces, saying no good fight in cold weather, and a-
heap-o'-snow. Little did this artful and skillful old warrior
dream that Major Ilges had his Gatling guns within range
with plenty of canister and shell, and that the boys in blue
were ready to fire by platoons, or at will. But such was the
case, and it required but a very short space of time to con-
vince Chief Gaul, to his entire satisfaction, that it was best
for him and his braves to make an unconditional surrender,
which was soon effected, but not until a few shots were fired
from the Gatling guns and a volley or two of musketry. In
response to this call, came the surrender of " Chief Gaul,"
together with all the lodges that were with him.

Nothing now remained to be done to close the Indian war
in the Northwest but to capture the leading chief, " Sitting
Bull," who was still behind and within a few days' march of
the British lines, but not without his best and fleetest ponies
and best guns, which were of the latest and most improved
patterns.

THE HOSTILES. 83

It is believed in military circles that about forty lodges of
his followers, with their horses, ponies and guns, are yet
across the boundary line, even now since the surrender of
Bull himself, and that they will never be given up to our
authorities. It is, however, hard to conjecture just what
course he will drift his influence, what he has left, with this
remnant of his once powerful tribes, that held sway over the
entire Sioux nation.

In the capture of " Chief Gaul," Major Guido Ilges is en-
titled to great credit for his personal bravery and endurance
in the field, the thermometer varying from 33 to 44 degrees
below zero, also, the officers and men alike under his com-
mand. Major Ilges is a Prussian by birth, and was com-
missioned in the regular army in 1861. In the civil war he
was distinguished for gallantry and meritorious services in
the battles of the "Wilderness" and " Spottsylvania," Va.,
for which he received promotion at the respective times.
He is one of the bravest and most conscientious officers on
the frontier, and the people in the Northwest extend him
a hearty vote of thanks.

Captain Walter Clifford, who received Sitting Bull at the
time of his surrender in the field, was born in the State of
New York, and commenced his career in the U. S. Army in
1860. He served with distinction during the civil war, and
was promoted for gallant and meritorious service in the
battle of Chickamauga, Ga. He is a Captain in the 7th U. S.
Infantry, has experienced his share of hard service against
the hostile Sioux during the past several years, and is highly
esteemed as a brave, daring and gentlemanly officer.

Brevet-Brigadier-General Thomas H. Buger, Colonel of
the 18th United States Infantry, was appointed to the regu-
lar army in 1854. He was promoted several times during
the war of the Rebellion, and more particularly for gallant
and meritorious services in the battles of " Franklin, Tehn.,
and Gettysburg, Pa." He was at one time commanding offi-
cer at West Point. He came to this department in 1878
with his regiment, taking station on Milk Biver, M. T., near
the extreme northern boundary line, and has since built the
post known as Fort Assinaboine, M. T.* This regiment has

84 SUBJUGATING

done hard and effective service in the field since it came to
this department. The building of Forts Assinaboine, on
Milk River, Custer and Keogh, on the Yellowstone, really
was unlocking the doors and taking possession of the great
Sioux nation. For several years before the " Battle of the
Little Big Horn" (1876), Lieutenant-General Sheridan at
different times recommended the establishment of these
posts, and more especially the two latter, in order that our
military might be garrisoned nearer the field of direct ope-
rations against Sitting Bull, so as to more effectually cope
with his hostile bands and war-parties, then scattered over
the entire Northwest, and it was not until after that memor-
able battle that he succeeded in getting Congress to author-
ize the sum and make the proper appropriations.

So it will be seen that the military* genius and foresight-
edness of our own Field General was, at the proper time,
more than equal to that of General Sitting Bull. Sheridan
was hampered by Congress, while Sitting Bull could act
with a free will of his own, unhampered by any power save
the forces that were contending against him. His authority
was supreme, and he fully commanded the situation.

To return to the field officers of the 18th Infantry, there
is Henry S. Black, the Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment,
who entered the regular army in July, 1847, from the Mili-
tary Academy at West Point, and was promoted at different
times during the war for faithful and meritorious services,
and at one time was the Colonel of the 6th California Vol-
unteers.

Major John S. Poland, of this regiment, was appointed to
the regular army in May, 1861, after his academic course at
West Point. He served with distinction during the war of
secession, especially in the battles of " Antietam and Shep-
ardstown Ford, Md.; Fredericksburg and .Chancellorville,
Va."; and has been stationed in Northern Dakota and Mon-
tana most of the time since 1872, and for years belonged to
the 6th U. S. Infantry that was also stationed in this depart-
ment for several years. Major Poland has been command-
ing officer at three several posts in this section of the coun-
try, and has always been considered a very cautious and

THE HOSTILES. 85

good administrative officer. He is strictly moral and tem-
perate, and a genial officer and gentleman.

Major E. B. Kirk, Assistant-Quartermaster in charge of
depot of supplies and army transportation, has been sta-
tioned at Bismarck and Fort Buford for the past several
years, and has held a very important position, having charge
of forwarding supplies to the front by both river, rail and
overland trains. He was appointed to the regular army from
Ohio, and was promoted during the civil war for faithful and
meritorious services in the Q. M. department and in the
field. He is an energetic, faithful officer, and at all times
has a watchful eye over the affairs in his department.

Among the many distinguished field officers who have
done very great and efficient service outside of this military
department, which has had a good and wholesome effect up-
on the Indians all along the frontier to the northern bound-
ary line, is Brevet-Major-General Benjamin H. Grierson,
Colonel of the 10th U. S. Cavalry. His operations against
the Kiowas, Comanches and, worst of all, the most horrid
and filthy wild Apaches, have had a most telling effect upon
the various tribes outside of the particular section of coun-
try that his operations have principally been confined to.
General Grierson entered the volunteer army in 1862, as
Major of a regiment of cavalry from the State of Illinois, and
for gallant and faithful service during the war he was pro-
moted several times, and in 1867 he was made a Brevet-Ma-
jor-General for special gallant and meritorious services in
the raid through the entire State of Mississippi. Many read-
ers of this volume will well remember the famous cav-
alry raider that penetrated central Mississippi, crossing the
Tallahatchie with his Brigade of Light Horse Cavalry at
midnight and marching on to the Balize in a most daring
and fearless manner. It was announced at the time that
this raid very nearly broke the backbone of the rebellion.
His most distinguished services of late have been in operat-
ing against Victorio's band of wild Apaches along the Rio
Grand river and in old Mexico, of which the country have
been advised at various times. He came into the State of
Kansas with his regiment in 1868, and has ever since been

86 SUBJUGATING

in active service subjugating the hostiles and protecting the
settlers on the frontier. He is strictly moral and temperate,
unpretending, and one of the best of army disciplinarians.
The officers of his regiment are faithful, brave and zealous
as those of any in the army. They have experienced hard and
continuous service in subjugating the hostiles in the south-
ern Indian country, and more especially the wild Apaches,
Kiowas and Comanches, and for gallant and meritorious
services they are entitled to a vote of thanks.

The reader in carefully studying the first section of this
volume, " General Van Couvnor," will be able to form a very-
fair conclusion in regard to the various and arduous duties
that have been devolved upon General Grierson and the
officers of the 10th Cavalry since 1868.

CHAPTER m.

The First Photograph of Sitting Bull, and His Age.

While the writer is making every effort to procure facts
and such matter as will be of interest to his readers, he is
just at this time in doubts about perfecting his plans to
have Sitting Bull sit for his photograph. Never up to this
time has he been situated so that one could be taken. It is
expected that he will come down from Fort Buford on the
steamer " General Sherman," en route to the Standing Rock
Agency, where he and most of his tribes will remain for a
time. I have arranged with a photographer, at quite a large
expense, to go down on the steamer and secure the first
photo that has ever been taken of our surrendered red
brother.

A river pilot just down from Fort Buford states that the
old chief is quite reticent and sullen. He recognized him,
however, saying he always had a good and warm heart for
river men, and finally wanted a dollar in the way of heap-
good-friendship. Soon after this interview, a party of citi-
zens, ladies and gentlemen, called upon the sullen chief at
his camp, and he refused to come out for the purpose of
making an exhibition of himself, and after exhausting their

THE HOSTILES. 87

patience and persuasion and a-heap-o'-good-honey-tongued-
coaxing, as the cunning warrior would phrase it, they offered
him one dollar apiece if he would come out and talk a few
moments, but he stubbornly and very sullenly refused.

Should he continue to be stubborn after arriving at Stand-
ing Bock, we of course will fail to get his photo, but we
intend to have it, that is if it can be had by any reasonable
amount of moral persuasion, as he would say himself, " this
side of the happy hunting grounds." We have known war-
chiefs to act stubbornly for many months after they had
surrendered, and for no other reason only it was, to use
their own phrase, " bad medicine, heap bad ; no good."
They would often say it was " the Great Spirit going to
strike them," and there is no doubt as to their entertaining
such superstition in real earnestness.

The writer at one time knew of a photographer who went
quietly to the camp of a once leading war chief, who had
already surrendered, and covering himself and his apparatus
with a blanket, set himself to work trying to get his camera
in range, when all at once he heard a clicking outside, that,
to say the least, sounded not at all agreeable, and at once
uncovering, found himself modestly arrayed within short
range of the stalwart chief, with a Spencer carbine in hand,
cocked and ready for instant action. The cool-headed and
persuasive photographer succeeded in becoming master of
the situation, by gently persuading the war chief that he
meant nothing wrong, and had already taken a score or more
of the leading war chiefs, all of whom were well pleased, also,
that all of the big officers in the army had their pictures
taken, so their wives and children and the great father
at Washington, could see them. Upon this statement the
old chief walked down to the rooms of the photographer,
and sat for his photo, with all his head-gear, galligaskins
And other toggery that helped to make up his regalia, in
order that his shapely figure might take a position alongside
of that of a major-general, saying he wanted the white folks
to hang his pictures on the wall in their houses, and that
he would take two to Washington, one for the great father,
and one for the big white chief ; not the big soldier chiefs,

88 SUBJUGATING

meaning Generals Sherman and Sheridan, but the red man's
friends, President Hayes and Secretary Shurtz.

The question of securing photos of warriors just after
they have surrendered may be quite well explained in the
Indian's own language : " May-be-so-a-heap-bad-medicine.
May-be-so-white-man' s-heart - a - heap - bad. Great - Spirit-
strike-red-man-too-quick." As the Indians are at times
allowed to go about officers' quarters at the military posts,
and visit among their families more or less, this prejudice
and superstition has gradually worn away, so that in most
cases the photographer in time has but little trouble in
securing their photos, even from those most stubborn at
first.

If we secure this photo, the readers of this book will
have the honor and pleasure, if such it is, of seeing the first
and only one that has ever been taken. We will not cease
our efforts in trying to procure it, and, if necessary, will
wait several days before passing this MSS. into the hands
of the publisher.

Of our military officers that have seen Sitting Bull and
conversed with him, all agree in saying that he is an artful
and brave warrior, and an Indian of very superior ability,
and possesses unusual powers of endurance. His indomit-
able energy and bull-dog tenacity has drawn toward him
the utmost respect of all his subordinate chiefs and warriors,
and it is not probable a surrender would have been effected
for some time to come, had it not been for the nearly naked
and half-starved condition of his old men, women and
children.

The steamer " General Sherman " has just landed with
Sitting Bull and about one hundred and fifty old men,
women and children, including about thirty warriors. His
father, and White Bear, a handsome-looking and good-
natured chief, accompany him as close attendants, appar-
ently as staff officers. The writer, by special permission,
boarded the steamer, and upon entering the cabin found
" standing room only," men, women and children of all ages,
sizes and nationalities, had gathered from the rural districts
and adjacent towns in the surrounding country, composed

THE HOSTTLES. 89*

the audience, all of whom were anxiously waiting their turn
to " shake and how " with the famous old war-horse. The
writer considered his mission and interview with the chief
too important to " get left," and at once mounted a chair in
the front end of the cabin, and looking over the surging
crowd, at last caught a glimpse of a row of six Indians, all
sitting at the left side of the cabin, with scout Allison stand-
ing beside Sitting Bull. I succeeded in getting through the
crowd and reaching the point where Allison stood, who at
once gave me a formal introduction to "Chief Sitting Bull,"
who sat in a chair at the head of the row. Mr. Allison,,
knowing that I was concluding my last chapter of this book,
was, in his always courteous manner, very obliging to me,,
and took special pains to tell the chief that I was the
"white chief of a book," and an old Indian trader. The
chief looked up rather smilingly, and at the same time ex-
tending his right hand and drawing his blanket, that covered
a once white shirt, more closely around his broad shoulders
with the other, said, " How." I at once returned the " how,"
and then made some signs known in the Southern Indian
language as "friendship," which he seemed to recognize
at once and rather good-naturedly. Preparatory to going
on the steamer, and bent upon getting his photograph, if
possibly within the reach of human ingenuity, I put in my
pocket a photo of my own (like the one on this frontispiece),
with the view of giving it to him, provided, however, I found
him in the right kind of humor, knowing very well the preju-
dices that had been inculcated from the aboriginal pre-
instruction of many of his race.

Upon giving him the photo, " White Bear," who sat at the=
foot of the semi- circle row, looked up in a wishful and pleas-
ing manner, and extending his hand to shake said, " How,
how," evidently much pleased to meet a pale-faced stranger
who could talk the language of the red man by signs.

After extending the usual " shake and how " with him, I
turned to Sitting Bull's father, whose Indian name is " Four
Horns," who was very reticent, although quite good-natured.
He is an Indian quite under medium stature, with shoulders
somewhat bent to the front, and, to try a guess on his age,

90 SUBJUGATING

would say quite close to seventy. He seemed to accept Lis
situation quite willingly, at the same time showed a rather
tiresome air, which led me to believe that he was actually
tired of being on the war-path, and only too glad to be at
peace, and no doubt thinks it better for him, as well as
others of his age, to be settled upon reservations, where
they can freely partake of government rations and draw
their annuity goods semi-annually, even if " the bad young
braves " do go out in raiding parties occasionally. As to
the latter, ho probably cares but very little, and will never
give himself any uneasiness, even if all the young braves on
the Missouri River should turn loose upon the frontier; but
as far as he is personally concerned, there is no question
t>ut that he intends to live quietly upon a reservation and
Abide by such rules and laws as will be made to govern it.

In turning to Sitting Bull, I asked Allison if he, " Bull,"
would take good care of my photograph, whose reply was,
"Yes, he is glad to get it and will take good care of it."
This was encouraging to the writer, thinking it might stim-
ulate him to have his own taken to give in return, as is char-
acteristic with leading chiefs to make a return present, and
more so when his heart is good toward the donor. We bade
him good-by, and after the regular " shake and how," left
the steamer in order to make room for others who were
anxious to shake with the chief, and we must say he would
shake hands very cordially with all who came along, paying
especial attention to the ladies. He has, it is said, hereto-
fore and since his surrender been quite indisposed to talk,
and rather sullen, saying he did not want to be talked to
death and gloated at. He wore a pair of green wire goggles,
so we could not see his naked eyes, but it is said that he
has a pair of as keen eagle eyes as ever was set between two
high cheek bones on any red man in the aboriginal tribes.
Up to this time we have hopes of getting him to sit for his
photo. We now witness the Professor going on board the
steamer with his camera and other paraphernalia, getting
ready to make the first attempt, after arriving at Standing
Rock, that was ever made to secure the photograph of Sit-
ting Bull, but still entertaining some doubts as to his success,

THE HOSTILES. 91

— that is to say, until after lie becomes more settled and re-
conciled to his new home. The chief will feel quite differ-
ent after arriving at the agency and getting rested, as well
as getting out of the way of the hundreds of anxious look-
ers on, and besides, he will meet his old and trusted friends,
" Gaul and Crow King," and other warriors and the fami-
lies he has so often inquired after since he surrendered.

We expect to have to wait from three to seven days be-
fore he will consent to sit, and if we fail in that time, we will
be compelled to hand our manuscript to the publisher with-
out it, but not without promising to have it ready for our
second edition. Just at this moment it is discovered that
Sitting Bull has consented to come to the hotel, and take
dinner by special invitation of Mr. Marsh, the popular land-
lord of the Merchants' Hotel. The chief, upon nearing the
office desk, takes out a little old worn pencil and registers
his name in full, with hand somewhat trembling, a fac-simile
of which was secured by the writer, by means of a piece of
tracing-paper, and we will promise that it shall appear un-
der his photo, if we succeed in getting it. In writing Sitting
Bull has received some instructions at various times from
Mr. Allison, a worthy and trusted scout who has been in
government employ a number of years, and having the con-
fidence of the officers in this department. He is a man of
fine education, having been raised and schooled in Central
New York, near Utica, and later years has been in govern-
ment employ as scout, and interpreter of the Sioux language.

In regard to the exact age of Sitting Bull we are unable to
be positive, and we doubt if any one will be able to get his
right number of years, and the best we have been able to
learn in regard to it is as follows :

In the year 1875 the writer was informed, by an ex-Indian
agent, that he was then forty -five years old, which would
make him now fifty-one. Just after the Custer battle on the
Little Big Horn, it was reported that he was then forty-two,
which would make him now forty- seven. We are now in-
formed that he is fifty-two, and we are inclined to believe
the latter to be nearer correct, judging from his looks. That
he has suffered hardships and privations we all know, and

92 SUBJUGATING

he has evidently taken remarkably good care of himself, as
he shows a fine and healthy-looking countenance.

His own statement to Mrs. Captain Harmon seems to make
him 48 — that is as near as he and his father can guess and
recollect.

Mrs. Harmon, while interviewing him on the steamer
"General Sherman," asked him his age, and his reply was he
thought he was 47. Mrs. Harmon, it appears, had some
knowledge that led her to believe that he was older, and
said, " Don't you think you are 48," and his reply was that
he didn't know exactly, but he knew that he was a little
older than " Eoaring Thunder," and just at this time " Four
Horns," father of the Chief, said, " Eoaring Thunder is 46
and you are a little older — may-be-so-makes-you-48." Thia
is probably the clearest and most reliable statement that
has ever been obtained from Sitting Bull by any white per-
son in regard to his age, and there can be no doubt as to his
sincerity in all he stated to Mrs. Harmon, as he appeared
very much interested, and at times made friendly gestures
that evinced great earnestness and friendship.

It is almost impossible to get the exact age of any Indian,
that has been roaming with the hostile bands, as they be-
come more or less confused, and ofttimes entirely lost in
keeping the count, which is usually done as follows :

When a child is born, the mother takes a stick of no great
size and cuts a notch on one side of it, and from that time
thereafter it is the intention to cat a notch at the end of
every moon (a moon is a month), and knowing that twelve
months make a year, and when twelve notches are cut in this
stick they then select a tree or another stick, and cut a notch
in it which denotes one year. We can now readily see that
if they get confused in making the notches, they are, of
course, more than likely to lose the exact age, and then they
have to depend upon the memory of the older ones in the
family or lodges to help them guess and remember.

Only four days after the interview with Mrs. Harmon,
when interviewed by an officer at " Standing Rock," he gave
his age 44, and said he was born near old Fort George, on
Willow Creek, below the mouth of Cheyenne River. Next

THE HOSTILES. 93

to himself, lie considers " Four Horns," who is his father,
the greatest living chief. Many years ago his father was
known as the famous chief, " Jumping Bull." He says he
never committed any depredations in the white man's coun-
try, and that he did not surrender, but only came in to stay
a few days, and how wants the government to let him go ;
that he never made a treaty nor sold any land, nor made
war on the white man's government. He says he has been
on the war-path since he was fourteen years old ; and pre-
vious to that time, and since he was old enough, he killed
buffalo most of the time, giving all of his surplus meat to
the old men and women that were poor and too old to hunt.
It is generally admitted that he is very tender-hearted and
affectionate toward the old men, women and children of all
the tribes in the Sioux nation, and the real reason, together
with his bravery and artfulness, of his gaining such a
stronghold in the hearts of his people, has been on account
of his extreme generosity and kind feelings toward them
when in distress. He has always showed a disposition to
share equally with them the hardships and sufferings they
have had to endure ; and it is a noted fact that the great
majority of the Indians throughout the Sioux country have
a warm corner in their hearts for Sitting Bull.

He says he is a chief by inheritance, has two living wives
and nine children, two of whom are twins. It is not only a
noticeable but a very amusing fact that he makes various
reports and conflicting statements to the different interview-
ers ; having watched his reports with great care from time
to time since his surrender, and are unable to discover any
two alike as regards to the same question when being asked
by different parties ; but as he now gets pay for his " words
and big talk," perhaps he thinks he should give to each in-
terviewer a different statement. The writer intends to see
him before many weeks, and have a hearty laugh over his
various and speculative interviews. We are inclined to
think, however, the old chief will only laugh and say, " the
white folks are all the time a-trying to fool him and his peo-
ple, and I thought it just as well to have a little fun by my-
self and see how they would like it to be fooled." That is

i

t

!

94 SUBJUGATING

about as much as he or any other Indian cares about mak-
ing a false statement to white people. Another statement
made in regard to his family was that he had two good wives,
loved one as much as the other, and by them both had
seventeen children, seven of whom were by his last or sec-
ond wife, and six of them, the youngest, were three pair of
twins.

He seems very much attached to one of his daughters, who
ran away from him last winter, eloping with a young brave
who had become tired of taking his rations of buffalo meat
on the open prarie in the deep snow, and wisely concluded
to come in and partake of Uncle Sam's hospitality at an
agency provided especially for him and his people.

It is said that he mourned very much over the elopement,
and at times would writhe in anger, claiming that she and
" Pretty Plume," his wife, were the two handsomest squaws
among the Sioux ; and in fact we may truthfully say that
" Pretty Plume " is really a handsome and queenly-looking
squaw, and if she were a white woman, and favored with the
usual facilities for an education and moral training, eta, etc.,
she would be a reigning belle in society. The chief claims
that white people induced his daughter to elope, and before
he had surrendered, some scalawag had led him to believe
(at least he so pretended) that our officers at " Fort Yates "
had her confined in irons, and in one of his statements regard-
ing his surrender, he said he did not want to come in to sur-
render, but came to see his girl who was in irons at " Stand-
ing Rock Agency," and now wants the government to let
him go back ; but as we have said before, he makes a great
many statements, and as a general thing no two are alike.

All there is about it, nothing but starvation and naked-
ness among his people ever forced him and his remnant band
of followers to come in and surrender. He made up his
mind to take the step he did, not because he wanted to, but
because he and his people were starved out. There was no
game, no, nothing, absolutely nothing, for them to live on.

He had wandered around and over a desolate country,,
where thousands of buffalo and antelope once roamed, and
now not a track to be seen. Eighteen or twenty years he

THE H0ST1LES. 95

has waged unceasing warfare against the whites, and it is

admitted, not only by his own people, but by our military

authorities, and Western men generally, who have had

means of knowing the facts, that he is the boldest, most

malignant and artful of all the cunning war chiefs, from the

Eio Grande to the Northern boundary line. But the chief

has surrendered, thus relinquishing all his rights to the

sturdy pioneer and ranchmen of the Western plains.

In order that you may form an idea of an Indian chant,

poetry and the " prayer of a squaw," we furnish the exact

words, as translated by an interpreter soon after the final

surrender of the chief :

Be brave, my friends, be brave.
The white men have brought us food ;
They will not hurt us ;
Their hearts are full of pity for us,
My father and my mother, be not afraid,
Your hunger once more is stayed,
And there is still food in abundance.
My brother and my sister, comb your hair,
And paint your faces with vermilion,
For the Great Spirit has softened
The hearts of our enemies, and they feed us with food.

He has, within the writer's knowledge, given three dis-
tinct accounts, and no two of them alike, of Custer's last
battle against him in the valley of the Little Big Horn,,
and there can be no doubt as to his first report being in
the main correct. It was about as follows :

He heard the long-haired chief and his soldiers were
coming, and he sent out thirty young men on the day before
the battle, and that night twenty of them returned and re-
ported the white soldiers coming, and he then told his
braves and all his old and young men to get ready for battle*
On the morning of the battle seven more of the young men
came in and said the soldiers were closing in upon their vil-
lage, and not long afterwards the remaining three came in
and reported the whole column of cavalry in sight, and he
then sent the women and children away, and before they
had been gone long the white soldiers made their first
charge, and just at this time his wife came running back,

•96 SUBJUGATING

•saying she was so badly scared that she forgot her baby. He
at once brought the little one from his tepee, and giving it
to his wife and telling her to run, he then turned toward his
braves, who were just resisting a bold and gallant charge
made by Custer at the head of his men. He then raised a
pole with a flag, and at the top of his voice shouted, " I am
Sitting Bull, the big chief and leader of all the Sioux war-
riors." His men had but little trouble in driving our col-
umn back, and every charge that was made by our men after
that was met and checked by his braves, and those not
killed on the field were driven back into new positions ; and
when the cavalry was finally reduced in numbers to a hand-
ful of men, they all rallied to where Custer stood, and then
the fighting was soon over, they all falling nearly at the
same time.

He then gave orders to go over to the other band, mean-
ing " Major Reno's command," leaving the squaws on the
field, which was near their village.

It is supposed by those who came upon the field first
after the battle, that just at this period some one of the
chiefs gave orders not to mutilate Custer's body, and also
made a mark across his nose and cheeks for a notice to the
squaws to that effect, which was obeyed ; hence we find
Custer's body not mutilated.

The chief further stated in this report that Reno and his
whole command would have shared the fate of Custer had
it not been for the arrival of "Terry and Gibbon" with re-
inforcements.

Another report he gives about as follows : saying he sent
his wife and child out back to hide and then started to go
over where they were fighting, and just then a heavy shock
of thunder and many sharp streaks of lightning struck the
whole of Custer's command, and that was what killed so
many men, and when the thunder was over, his warriors
killed all there was left.

Another statement is, that after his braves had killed
nearly all of Custer's men, he told them to cease firing, as
they had killed men enough, but they still insisted upon
wiping out the whole command, and then Custer's men

THE HOSTILES. 97

made such fearful charges they had to kill them all in order
to save their own lives and their women and children. Now,
it is more than probable that his first report is the nearest
correct, as it compares very favorably with the two made by
" Crow King and Low Dog," at Standing Bock, only a few
days after the surrender of the chief. It is doubtful if we
^ver arrive at the actual facts in relation to that battle any
nearer than is embraced in those three reports, which in-
cludes the first one made by the chief, and those two by
Crow King and Low Dog respectively, who were leading
war chiefs in the fight.

We have never, up to this time, heard of thunder and
lightning making an attack on a battalion of cavalry, nor are
we willing to believe that Sitting Bull ordered his warriors
to cease firing, at the same time telling them they had killed
men enough, and that the soldiers were not to blame, as
they were told to do so and were fighting under orders from
their government, etc., etc.

Such action on his part is not one of his characteristics,
nor is it consistent with his mode of warfare against either
white men nor his red brethren, for only a month or six
weeks before his surrender he annihilated a small band of
.Nez Perces, some seventeen in number. This, however, has
recently come to light. In 1877, when the Nez Perces sur-
rendered to General Miles, a small band escaped and fled to
Sitting Bull's band across the boundary line, and it appears
of late they drifted away from the Sioux warriors. "We are
at the present time unable to get the exact facts in regard
to the trouble, but, as far as we can learn, a sudden quarrel
broke out in the lodges and the Nez Perces were killed to a
man.

Sitting Bull's report that he " ceased firing " is only a lame
Indian plea in the shape of begging for mercy, thinking our
authorities will be more lenient with him should he be for-
tunate enough in making them believe that he really did
save the lives of some of the survivors of Custer's last battle.
He has mustered his ingenuity in this plea, thinking it will
be the means of drawing an additional amount of mercy to
that already shown him. We will soon show how it was

98 SUBJUGATING

that he happened to be so humane and thoughtful as to give
his much talked-about order, and just at this particular
time, to " cease firing."

It was the day after Custer fell that our men came on the
hill and at once discovered that Custer's body was not muti-
lated, and a mark had been made across his cheeks and nose,
just below his eyes. This was done by some one of the
leading chiefs as a notice to the squaws that this body must
not be mutilated on account of his bravery ; and well they
knew and felt it, for over one hundred empty cartridge
shells were found near by where his feet had stood just be-
fore he fell, and there can be no doubt but that he brought
down many a warrior before he fell. It so happened that
Major Reno found that he was overpowered, and being fore-
sighted enough to entrench himself, was thus enabled to
hold at bay the unrelenting hordes until Generals Terry and
Gibbon came to his relief, and just about this time the chief
no doubt did give an order to retreat and also to cease firing.
At all events he retreated to the hills in a very short space of
time, which was, of course, done to save his own men instead
of Reno's, who were entrenched, and were alone giving him
a hot battle.

As before stated, the writer has taken no little pains in
procuring facts from the most reliable sources at his com-
mand, and at the same time has been very cautious in arriv-
ing at conclusions, in order to get at actual facts and cir-
cumstances as they have transpired during this important
campaign, and must say that not until the present time have
we been able to get an Indian account of the Custer battle
from their own lips any way satisfactory, or that looked half
way reasonable.

We have quite recently noticed an account given by two
leading chiefs, " Crow King and Low Dog," both subordi-
nates under Sitting Bull, and were in the " Custer battle."
It appears that Captain Howe, at Fort Yates, or more gen-
erally known as the " Standing Rock Agency," succeeded in
getting a voluntary statement from these two chiefs, and it
is the clearest and most satisfactory account that is known,
to have been given by Indians who knew the facts. We

THE HOSTTLES. 99

have known Captain Howe since 1873, and know him to be
a most upright and conscientious officer and gentleman, and
would not allow himself to stoop to anything that had a
shadow of trickery or falsehood about it. He is highly
respected by the Indians, and more particularly on account
of his being at all times strict, yet just, and very obliging.

The readers can now have the latest and most authentic In-
dian account that ever has been procured by a white person.

Captain Howe has, during the eight years just past, been
in command of several military posts on the Missouri River,
and has the reputation of managing Indians with great
credit to himself, and general satisfaction to them. It will
be remembered that " Crow King and Low Dog " surrender-
ed last winter, after being driven and forced by the frost-
bitten troops under " Major Hges," near Fort Buford, and
have since had opportunities to get acquainted with the
officers, and have, without doubt, made a very correct
account of " Custer's last battle."

Low Dog said : " We were in camp near Little Big Horn
Eiver. We had lost some horses and an Indian went back
on the trail to look for them. We did not know that the
white warriors were coming after us. Some scouts or men
in advance of the warriors saw the Indian looking for the
horses, and ran after him and tried to kill him, to keep him
from bringing us word ; but he ran faster than they, and
came into camp and told us that the white warriors were
coming. I was asleep in my lodge at the time. The sun
was about noon (pointing with his finger). I heard the
alarm, but I did not believe it. I thought it was a false
alarm. I did not think it possible that any white men would
attack us, so strong as we were. We had in our camp the
Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, and seven different tribes of the
Teton Sioux — a countless number. Although 1 did not be-
lieve it was a true alarm, I lost no time getting ready. When
I got my gun and came out of my lodge, the attack had be-
gun at the part of the camp where Sitting Bull and the Un-
capapas were. The Indians held their ground to give the
women and children time to get out of the way. By this
time the herders were driving in the horses, and as I was

100 SUBJUGATING

nearly at the further end of the camp I ordered my men to
catch their horses and mount. But there was much confu-
sion. The women and children were trying to catch their
horses and get out of the way, and my men were hurrying
to go and help those that were fighting. When the fighters
saw that the women and children were safe, they fell back
By this time my people went to help them, and the less able
warriors and the women caught horses and got them ready,
and we drove the first attacking party back, and that party
retreated to a high hill. Then I told my people not to ven-
ture too far in pursuit, for fear of falling into an ambush.

By this time all the warriors in our camp were mounted
and ready for fight, and then we were attacked on the other
side by another party. They came on us like a thunderbolt.
I never before nor since saw men so brave and fearless as
those white warriors. We retreated until our men got all
together, and then we charged upon them. I called to my
men, 'This is a good day to die; follow me.' We massed
our men, and, that no man should fall back, every man
whipped another man's horse, and we rushed right upon
them. As we rushed upon them the white warriors dis-
mounted to fire, but they did very poor shooting. They held
their horses' reins on one arm while they were shooting, but
their horses were so frightened that they pulled the men all
around, and a great many of their shots went up in the air
and did us no harm. The white warriors stood their ground
bravely, and none of them made any attempt to escape or
get away. After all, but a few of them were killed ; I cap-
tured two of their horses. Then the wise men and chiefs of
our nation gave out to our people not to mutilate the dead
white chief, for he was a brave warrior and died a brave
man, and his remains should be respected. Then I turned
round and went to help fight the other white warriors, who
had retreated to a high hill on the east side of the river.
(This was Bono's command.) I don't know whether any
white men of Custer's force were taken prisoners. When I
got back to our camp they were all dead. Everything was
in confusion all the time of the fight. I did not see General
Custer. I do not know who killed him. We did not know

\

\

\

\

THE H0STILE8. 101

till the fight was over that he was the white chief. We had
no idea that the white warriors were coming until the run-
ner came in and told us. I do not say that Reno was a cow-
ard. He fought well, but our men were fighting to save
their women and children, and drove them back. No white
man or Indian ever fought as bravely as Custer and his men.
The next day we fought Eeno and his forces again, and
killed many of them. Then the chiefs said these men had
been punished enough, and that we ought to be merciful,
and we let them go. Then we heard that another force was
coming up the river to fight us (Gen. Terry's command), and
we started to fight them, but the chiefs and wise men coun-
seled that we had fought enough, and that we should not
fight unless attacked, and we went back and took our women
and children and went away."

Having heard Low Dog's story of the fight, I concluded I
would try to get an account from other chiefs, and going
with an interpreter to the Indian camp, approached Chief
Gaul first. He said if he knew anything he would tell it,
but he denied that he was in the fight. He said he was
helping the women catch the horses, and took no other part.
If he thought I believed that, he mistook his man, and I
shall try him again. Eain-in-the-Face refused to talk. I
then called on Crow King, a chief of the Uncapapas, Sitting
Bull's tribe, and a noted warrior. He has a good face, and
wields great influence over the Indians. He is one of the
few chiefs who speak well of Sitting Bull. After some little
talk, he came up to the fort and gave me his story :

" We were in camp, not thinking there was any danger of
a battle, although we had heard that the long-haired chief
had been sent after us. Some of our runners went back on
our trail, for what purpose I do not know. One came back
and reported that an army of white soldiers was coming, and
he had no more than reported when another runner came in
with the same story, and also told us that the command had
divided, and that one party was going round to attack us on
the opposite side. The first attack was at the camp of the
Uncapapas tribe. The shots neither raised nor fell. (Here
he indicated that the whites commenced firing at about 400

102 SUBJUGATING

yards distance.) The Indians retreated — at first slowly, to
give the women and children time to go to a place of safety
Other Indians got our horses. By that time we had war-
riors enough to turn upon the whites, and we drove them to
a hill and started back to camp. Then the second band of
white warriors came. We did not know who was their
chief, but we supposed it was Custer's command. This
party commenced firing at long range (indicating nearly a
mile). We had then all our warriors and horses. There
were 80 warriors in mv band. All the Sioux were there
from every tribe. We had warriors plenty as the leaves on
the trees.

" Our camp was as long as from the fort to the lower end of
our camp here (more than two and a half miles). Sitting
Bull and Crazy Horse were the great chiefs of the fight.
Sitting Bull did not himself fight, but he gave orders. We
turned against this second party. The great body of our
warriors came together in their front, and we rushed our
horses on them. At the same time warriors rode out on
each side of them and circled round them till they were sur-
rounded. When they saw that they were surrounded they
dismounted. They tried to hold on to their horses, but as
we pressed closer they let go their horses. We crowded
them towards our main camp and killed all. They kept in
order and fought like brave warriors as long as they had a
man left. Our camp was on Greasy Grass Biver (Little
Big Horn). When we charged, every chief gave the cry,
1 Hi-yi-yi.' (Here Crow Chief gave us the cry in a high
prolonged tone. When this cry is given it is a command to
all the warriors to watch the chief and follow his actions.)
Then every chief rushed his horse on the white soldiers, and
all our warriors did the same, every one whipping another's
horse. There was great hurry and confusion in the fight.
No one chief was above another in that fight. It was
not more than half an hour after the long-haired chief
attacked us before he and all his men were dead. Then we
went back for the first party. We fired at them until the
sun went down. We surrounded them and watched them
all night, and at daylight we fought them again. We killed

THE HOSTILES. 103

many of them. Then a chief from the Uncapapas called our
men off. He told them those men had been punished
enough, that they were fighting under orders, that we had
killed the great leader and his men in the fight the day
before, and we should let the rest go home. Sitting Bull
gave this order. He said : * This is not my doings nor these
men's. They are fighting because they were commanded to
fight. We have killed their leader, let them go.' I call on
the Great Spirit to witness what I say. We did not want to
fight. Long Hair sent us word that he was coming to fight
us, and we had to defend ourselves and our wives and chil-
dren. If this command had not been given we could have
cut Reno's command to pieces, as we did Custer's. No
warrior knew Custer in the fight. We did not know him,
dead or alive. When the fight was over the chiefs gave or-
ders- to look for the long-haired chief among the dead, but
no chief with long hair could be found.'' (Custer had his
hair cut short before starting on this march.)

Crow King said that if Reno had held out until Terry and
Gibbon came and then fought as Custer did, they would
have whipped the Indians. The Indians would then have
T>een compelled to divide to protect their women and chil-
dren, and the whites would have had the advantage. He
expressed great admiration for the bravery of Custer and
his men, and said that that fight impressed the Indians that
the whites were their superiors, and it would be their de-
struction to keep on fighting them. Both he and Low Dog
said they did not feel that they would be blamed for the
Custer fight or its results. It was war ; they were attacked ;
Custer tried to kill them ; they killed him. Crow King said
he had two brothers killed in the fight ; from 30 to 50 Indi-
ans were killed, and a much larger number who were
wounded died afterward.

104 SUBJUGATING

"LOUIS," OLDEST SON OF SITTING BULL, AND HIS WIFE,

ZUZELA.

Upon the opposite page appears a life likeness of " Louis,'*
a son of Chief Sitting Bull, about twenty-three years of age,
and through the kindness of young C. K. Peck, Jr., whose
father was an old Indian trader, we are permitted to take a
"fac simile " of his signature, which was secured from Louis
while he was en route from Fort Buford to Standing Rock,
early last spring, on the steamer "General Terry." He also
wrote his wife's name, Zuzela, as will also be noticed.

After Louis was surrendered to Major Ilges last winter,
he rendered almost invaluable service to that officer in" the
way of giving information and acting as a mounted scout,
and it is possible he may remain quiet and continue his
good services to the government ; and it is just as possible
he may skip out with a marauding band of discontented
braves and join a small war-party. He will, however, be
influenced in a great measure by the leading chiefs, also by
Sitting Bull himself.

The writer places these autographs before the reading
public merely to show that the average class of Indians of
both sexes, below fhe age of say twenty-five, are, in a great
measure to be considered yet in the hands of the military,
the philanthropists and teachers.

It will readily be seen that the untutored children of
the forest will no doubt make very marked progress in
our elementary branches of study, with proper encour-
agement and good moral training. The younger class,
say below the age above mentioned, are generally quite
ingenious and apt in learning, and those that have not been
wholly demoralized by the older warriors and leading chiefs,
there are strong hopes of fair to good results in trying to
educate them. We are frank to state that, from our own
personal knowledge, we are able to say that there is a very
general and marked improvement, which already shows the

gX ^-3

l ° T-E/. A

THE HOSTILES. 10&

results of the so very persistent, but generous philanthrop-
ists and teachers, who have so bravely stemmed the tide of
opposition all along the frontier. As is already shown at
the various Indian agencies, there are numerous classes of
half and full grown Indians of both sexes, who are quite
well advanced in reading and writing, and as they grow
older they seem to take quite an interest in farming and
stock raising, and we must say with considerable less reluc-
tance than many of our white brothers, after taking the-
advice of the veteran Horace Greeley to " go West, young^
man, go West."

While writing this article, we beg to state that in turning
our eyes to the left, and looking out of a certain window in
Printing House Square, we gaze upon the scene of the life
labors of Horace Greeley, (the Tribune building), the moral
adviser to the young men of the country, as well as the old,
and just now imagine if his voice could be heard from be-
neath the sepulchre, he would speak in louder tones than
ever, " Young man, go West," but don't forget what to do when
you get there.

As to the philanthropists and teachers who have paved
the way into the Indian country, and have made such com-
mendable strides toward educating the red men of the plains,
we can only say that they are, to say the least, entitled to a-
vote of thanks from the country at large, and should be not
only encouraged by the Government, but well paid for their
services. There is no longer any doubt as to the final suc-
cess of their workings and teaching, both morally and
physically.

106 SUBJUGATING

CHAPTEE IV.

.Sitting BuWs frst visit to a white man } s city — Bismarck. — On

the steamer " General Sherman"

Sitting Bull's visit to Bismarck was anything but satisfac-
tory to him, more particularly on account of being deprived
of visiting the residence of Captain William Harmon. It
will be remembered that this was the first white man's town
or city that Sitting Bull was ever in, and he certainly was
entitled to respectful treatment. It appears that Mrs. Har-
mon's mother, Mrs. Galpin, was an old acquaintance of his,
many years ago, and he has known for years that her daugh-
ter married Captain Harmon.

As soon as the steamer landed, Captain Harmon started
in his carriage, taking Mrs. H. along as far as the church,
and then proceeded, with one of his little sons, to the boat.
The chief was more than glad to see him, and after the usual
" hearty shake, and how," the captain then said, " This is my
second son ;" to which the chief replied, " I am poor, and
have nothing to give you, only my name," taking the hat
from the boy's head and writing his name quite plainly on
the inside, and said, " if I had anything more to give, I
would give it to you ;" and then said to the captain, " you
ought to bring your wife down to the boat," saying he had
known her mother for many years. The captain said he had
left her at church, but as he was going straightway home,
he would take her along; and when he, the chief, came up
into the city, he wanted him to come to his residence ; to
which the chief replied, that he would be glad to come, and
would do so, if they would let him. But it appears his wish
was not granted, for reasons known only to those who had
him in charge, and prevented him from going there.

Captain Harmon, upon arriving at his house — a richly fur-
nished mansion in the suburbs of the city — together with
his accomplished and queenly wife, set themselves about
preparing a lunch, such as sandwiches, lemonade, etc., etc.,

THE HOSTILES. 107

and thereupon waited the arrival of the " chief." The par-
ties in charge of the reception, however, thought best not to
allow him to go there, for reasons not by them explained,
and at the same time not showing even a faint disposition
to care anything about the personal wishes of " Sitting
Bull"

The chief felt very much disappointed, as well as deeply
mortified at this chagrin, and Mrs. Harmon was at once sent
for. Upon her arrival on board the steamer " General Sher-
man," the usual " shake and how," as a matter of course,
came first, and the chief was indeed glad to see Mrs. H. The
chief had known her mother since his bovhood, and he
seemed to act and talk very free — inquiring about many
things that had transpired within the past few years in that
section of the country, and expressed himself as perfectly
satisfied with her answers and explanations.

The good lady said to him, " Don't you think it would
have been better for you and your people if you had come
in and surrendered in 1867, as you were told to do ?" To
which he answered, " Yes, I think it might have been bet-
ter, but as me and my people was born in this country, I
always considered it belonged to me, and do yet ; and I
never would have come in, only for the sake of my women
and children, and did not come in because I wanted to."

Mrs. Harmon speaks the Sioux language fluently, and the
chief knew that she was one among only a very few white
ladies in the world that can speak and understand his lan-
guage in all its phases. In the early days of the chief he
learned the French language to quite an extent from " French
traders " that visited his section of the country for the pur-
pose of trading, and who generally came from the British
possessions.

Now the writer does not in the least manner feel disposed
to question the conduct of any particular parties, but will
merely suggest, now that Sitting Bull is in the hands
of the proper officials, fully and properly surrendered
in accordance with all demands made upon him by the
proper authorities, he be treated with, to say the least, com-
mon decency, all of which he is certainly entitled to, for we

108 SUBJUGATING

must admit that the war was forced upon him and his peo-
ple for no other reason only for the advancement of our
noble Saxon race.

The idea of forcing him into a common puppet show in
different places, much to his displeasure, was, to say the
least, very disgusting to him and wholly uncalled for. No
wonder he said he thought the white folks were making
fools of themselves in forcing him into a position to be
sneered and laughed at.

It must be borne in mind that Sitting Bull has not lesa
than twenty-five hundred braves, all of whom are able-
bodied warriors, and are now within his call, and all the
while he is submitting so quietly to the powers that be, it
is well enough to consider that it is not impossible thai
plans will be laid and carried into effect within his apparent
deaf ear, which may be the means of calling out the entire
force under command of General Sheridan ; and we again,
suggest that the artful old chief be dealt with in a fair and
respectable manner, and be allowed to receive such treat-
ment as he is entitled to.

In the way of a gentle hint as to what might happen, the
writer respectfully refers to the first section of this volume,
" General Van Couvnor," where the leading war-chiefs were
in council at a " peace commission,'' and at the same time
the young warriors were raiding in Texas, capturing women,
children, horses and mules, and it is fair to presume that
similar scenes may be enacted on the frontier plains of
Dakota and among the ranchmen in the hills of Montana, as
it was on the borders of Kansas and Texas.

The writer does not propose to dictate nor even suggest a
policy to be pursued by our authorities, but modestly claims-
the right to state what possibly might occur, judging from
facts and precedents already established on .our frontier ; and
in the meantime we have no reason to apprehend that there
will be any napping or negligence while Sitting Bull and his
warriors are being herded and cared for.

THE H0STILE8. 109

CHAPTEK V.

A Careful Review of the Present Situation.

A careful view of the situation, and a glance over the list
of field officers that have been on duty in the Northwest for
the purpose of subjugating the Sioux nation and cutting the
way through the bad lands and over the plains, in order to
cross the continent on this line — running nearly mid-way be-
tween the 46th and 47th parallel of north latitude — it will
at once be seen that no insignificant amount of military
genius and executive ability has been arrayed in the new
Northwest to accomplish this final and most satisfactory re-
sult, that the country may justly feel so proud of.

Any one of the above-mentioned officers; if called upon to
take command of an army corps of twenty thousand men,
would not shrink from the responsibility, but would, judg-
ing from their past career and from laurels already won in
many a hard-fought battle — some in civil war and others in
Indian wars on the frontier — would discharge the various
and onerous duties devolved upon them in a manner becom-
ing an officer in the American army.

We have had on duty in the Northwest a greater portion
of the time since 1873, between thirty and forty field officers
and over two hundred officers of the line, with about three
thousand men in the ranks, to confront the hostiles of the
Sioux nation. In addition to the above, we must add the
list of army surgeons, artificers, mechanics, teamsters and
laborers at the various military posts ; also Indian scouts
and interpreters; all of which will number not less than
three hundred, and at times would swell the number to over
seven hundred.

We will now call the attention of our readers to the fact
that the officers of the line in all of the regiments above
mentioned, and others that have been on duty in the North-
west during our Indian troubles, have shared no less of the
hardships and dangers than their superiors mentioned in
this volume. En regie ; selon les regies, de jure. In speaking
generally, we must say that their heroic conduct on the

110 SUBJUGATING

field and their industry and faithful services entitles them
to volumes of credit and a general vote of thanks from their
countrymen, many of whom are sure to follow in the west-
ern path that is now in a great measure paved for civilization.

In making special mention of officers, the writer does not
consider it his proper mission, strictly speaking, to give the
record of army officers, as this work is not intended for an
army register, but we think it not out of place to make men-
tion of some of the material facts connected with the history
of the officers who have takfcn an active part in this long
and vexatious Indian war that is now terminated, in order
to more fully illustrate to our readers that our Indian diffi-
culties have been managed by officers not only of long and
varied experience in both civil and Indian warfare, and as
their records show, they have proved themselves industri-
ous, zealous and faithful to the various trusts imposed upon
them, as well as proving themselves equal to the emergen-
cies that have suddenly arisen before them from time to time
during the several years just past, and some of whom have
been constantly engaged against the hostile savages since
the close of the civil war.

The successful management of the various campaigns since
the battle of the " Little Big Horn," in 1876, and the well-
trained discipline throughout the rank and file of the troops
in this department, reflects great credit upon the sagacious
and conscientious Department Commander, Brig.-General
Alfred H. Terry, and his staff of skilled and gentlemanly
officers. It must not be inferred that we hold General Terry
responsible for the result of the Little Big Horn battle.
Far from it. Certain high officials at Washington, in order
to give vent to their personal spite, detained the column
nearly or quite a month, thereby giving Sitting Bull an
opportunity of enormous magnitude to recruit his forces
from the various tribes throughout the West and Northwest,
all of which swelled his hostile army that awaited in the
valley of the Little Big Horn only to meet the gallant Custer,
who was known among the Indians all the way from the
"Brazos to the Yellowstone," as the "Long-Haired Chief,"
thus enabling him to mow down the brave troopers of the

THE H0STILE3. Ill

7th Cavalry, with Custer at the head, by platoons and com-
panies, as they were found on the field lying in regular
winrows, sleeping the sleep that none but dauntless soldiers,
do.

Our countrymen throughout the land ought to speak in
loud tones and say to the veterans, officers and brave men of
their respective commands, that have stood the brunt of a
score or more of hard-fought Indian battles and skirmishes
on the plains all along the frontier, from tho Gulf of Mexico
to the British Possessions, and who have with stout hearts
buried hundreds of their heroic brothers that were mowed
down, not only man by man, but by companies and battal-
ions, whose bones now lie mouldering under the sod of the
green earth, some in the valley of the Washita, and others
in the lonely valley of the Little Big Horn, with scarce a
rude head-board that well might read, Here lies a jnan that
nobly lived and bravely died in honor, glory and fame, that
his white brothers might follow in the peaceful paths of
civilization. Yes. Well might the country at large, in one
loud voice say to those brave officers and men, Well done,
good and faithful servants, you have opened the way for
Christian civilization that is sure to follow in your foot-
steps. Tour tents, camp equipage and other paraphernalia
used in wars, also the tepees of the savage warrior must now
make room for the onward march of civilization, with its
churches, school-houses and teachers.

Instead of hearing the oft-heard war-whoop and murder-
ous yells of the hideous savages on the battle-field and the
retort by our Gatling guns and musketry, and the loud cheer-
ing of our brave boys in blue, you will hear the persuasive
eloquence of the kind-hearted theologian and the knightly
young schoolmaster, pleading the cause of Christianity and
education ; and where Sitting Bull ofttimes held his medicine
lodges and war dances on the banks of the Little Missouri
and Little Big Horn Rivers, for no other purpose only to
strengthen and bolster up the hearts of hundreds of Gall-
hearted warriors, and urge them on to cold-blooded, heart-
rending and blood-thirsty murders, you will see stately
court-houses, with their benches occupied by the ablest

112 SUBJUGATING

jurists in the land to mete out justice, and members of the
bar ably advocating and defending the cause of peace and
good order.

The energetic, sturdy, powerful and unconquerable Saxon
race have decided that this country cannot afford to set
aside an area of territory large enough to make three States
the size of New York for the sustenance of a single chief and
his hostile bands of warriors. The fate of the " king war-
rior" is decreed. The final unconditional surrender of Sit-
ting Bull is an event in American history, and more espe-
cially so for the reason of it being the summary turning
point of transformation of the native aborigines of the once
powerful Sioux nation. Our military will no longer be
waging costly and bloody wars against his hostile and pow-
erful hordes to subdue their rebellious and murderous on-
slaughts .against the onward march of our Saxon civilization
that manifest destiny has decreed shall dominate on this
continent.

He, with his tribes and marauding bands of demoralized
and half-starved followers, will be watched with vigilant
eyes, but kindly cared for by the munificent agents of the
Interior Department, assisted by a corps of large and open-
hearted philanthropists, whose duties will not only in a
measure be encouraged, but rigidly enforced by the author-
ity of our powerful but ever humane and magnanimous gov-
ernment. There is no longer a formidable tribe, or an asso-
ciation of tribes, of hostile Indians within the territory of
the United States.

It is fair to presume that Sitting Bull will be kept under
military surveillance upon some one of the military posts
for awhile and then put upon an agency. His followers
will be divided among the various Indian agencies, and the
old chief will have to resign himself into insignificance and
rest contented in thinking that he once was the supreme
and powerful ruler over the once powerful tribes of the
Sioux nation.

At the same time it is just as fair to presume that many a
young and discontented warrior that once raided and fought
under the plumed Sitting Bull may think agency rations

THE HOSTELES. 113

-somewhat stale, and the quiet and monotonous life about
Uncle Sam's agencies quite too common for a young and
dashing warrior, and after seeing an opportunity to mount
themselves and secure a belt full of long range ammunition,
start off on a raid, perhaps to join other bands, for no
other purpose only to roam from one section of the country
to another, save to kill a few buffalo and run off small herds
of stock. Vigilant eyes will have to be kept upon them un-
til they become more contented and better familiarized with
the ways of white people. There is, however, a decided im-
provement in the advancement of the Indian from one year
to another. The young and yet warlike braves will have to
be gradually tamed, now that they have surrendered, and it
will take no little amount of moral persuasion to keep them
within the bounds of peace and good behavior. We may
look for the best, and at the same time place confidence in
the ability of our trustworthy officers who have them in
♦charge.

114 SUBJUGATING

SECTION" V.
"CUSTER'S LAST RALLY."

The Painting in the Studio. — Walt Whitman's Account. — Me*
moriam by Judge J. S. Carvett. — Rain-in-the-Face.

That our readers may be able to appreciate the interest,
that has been taken over this ever-memorable battle, we
make note of some facts connected with it, in order to show
that some of the ablest authors in prose and poetry, also
artists of great repute, have bent their energies, ability and
skill in securing the real facts as they were connected with
" Custer's last battle."

A description of this battle has been heralded throughout
the land in nearly or quite all of the journals, and read by
every fireside, and almost numberless paintings, chromos,
engravings and various other life-like illustrations adorn
the walls to-day of almost untold numbers of art galleries,
drawing rooms, studios, and public places ; but never has
there been produced a painting, chromo or engraving that
will compare with the one now nearly finished and owned
by Mr. John Mulvany, recently from Kansas City, Mo. The
writer remembers that during the summer of 1880 Mr.
Mulvany was making his tour throughout the Northwest,
visiting the Custer battle-field, the different military posts
and Indian agencies, in order to get views and facts con-
nected with the battle, such as would enable him to paint
upon canvas a real life-like picture of the several survivors,
who, up to this time, were withstanding the desperate
charges that were repeatedly made by the almost countless
numbers of blood-thirsty savages. After receiving the de-
sired information from officers, scouts and Indians who had
survived the battle, he proceeded to Kansas City, were he
opened his studio, and remained there perfecting his work.

THE HOSTILES. 115

until early in this present summer, when he proceeded with
his painting to Boston, remaining there one month, and
then proceeded with his painting, nearly finished, to New
York City, where he now is, completing his work. It is sup-
posed that he moved his painting from Boston to New York
City so as to be nearer Mrs. Custer, who resides in the latter
<aty, in order to enable him to get a more correct knowledge
of the intellectual features of the General and the officers
and several others who were known to have been in " the last
rally."

The writer, upon hearing that Mr. Mulvany was in the
city, at once commenced making inquiries as to his location,
and, much to his surprise, could get no information. We
asked, to say the least, several dozen prominent artists and
newspaper reporters, all of whom would have been likely to
know, had it not been for the strict secrecy that Mr. Mul-
vany has been keeping himself in ; but after exhausting all
of my spare time and patience, and nearly all hope of find-
ing him or his painting, my mind at once dropped upon a
certain individual, who I found in the seventh story of a
certain building, and it was but a few moments before I
was in his presence, making my usual inquiry in regard to
the whereabouts of " Mulvany and his painting ;" and, in a
very gentlemanly manner, after taking the second thought,
said, " If you can find Mr. Walt Whitman, you will be quite
likely to get the information you desire, as he is, I think,
the only man in the city that knows the precise location.

Soon after this interview I was informed that Mr. Whit-
man was out of the city, and I at once addressed a note to
him, and promptly by return mail I received the informa-
tion that I had so persistently worked to obtain for four
successive days, and all of this time could not imagine why
such strict secrecy was resorted to; I was not long, how-
ever, in finding the building, and, after reaching the top of
the first flight of stairs, I approached the janitor and in-
quired if Mr. Mulvany was on the top floor with his paint-
ing. He replied that he was, but it was no use for me to go
up there, as I would not be admitted, and besides he had
received orders not to allow any one to go up there.

116 SUBJUGATING

By this time the writer had reached half-way up the sec-
ond flight in a leisurely manner, and the more we insisted
upon going up, the more anxious was the janitor to explain,
why he must not allow any one to enter upon the upper
floor ; but we slowly gained the top of the flight, and, sud-
denly turning around the banister, shot up the second flight,
taking about four steps only, in order to escape from the
janitor as soon as possible.

After ascending two more flights we found the door open-
ing into Mr. Mulvany's studio. He seemed glad to receive
a representative from the frontier, and more especially so on
account of my coming from so near the scene exhibited on
the canvas which hung upon the wall before me, covering a
space of about 22X12 feet. He at once placed a chair for me
to sit in at a distance of about thirty feet from the painting,
and at the first glance my eyes were of course brought
directly upon the soldierly and most natural-looking figure
of " Major-General George A. Custer," with his huge revolver
drawn in his right hand and at arms length, with his eye
making a sure aim, which at once convinced me that at least
one more painted and plumed warrior fell before his own time
had come, which was no doubt then close at hand. On my right
and just at Custer's left was the genial and noble-hearted
Cook (Custer's Adjutant), in a half kneeling position, with
his carbine drawn with deadly aim (and no doubt for the
last time) on some one of the warriors who were just at this
time making a fearful onslaught upon this heroic and lonely
little band, all that were left of the brave three hundred after
a most bitter and heart-rending, yet the most glorious defense
that has ever been made in the world, or recorded in the
annals of any history of civilized or Indian warfare. A few
feet from Custer, on his left, lay the gallant Captain Yates,
evidently just breathing his last, and over his body was a
carbine just leveled by a bronze faced trooper wearing a fron-
tierman's broad-brimmed hat, set one side of his head and a
little back, with a blue army shirt on with sleeves rolled up,
all of which presented a most life-like appearance, and a des-
peration that seemed to speak as loud and plain as words
could speak — "Fll avenge the death of my brave cominander f

!

THE HOSTILES. 117

who has so nobly fought and bravely died before me." In cast-
ing my eyes to the rear of where Custer stood, and glancing
around and over the semi-circle winrow of dead horses and
men, all lying promiscuously and in pell-mell order, with
now and then a dead Indian still clenching his carbine or
spear with deathly grasp, we see nothing but one vast array
of blood-thirsty warriors, making their final onslaught against
the legion brave who had stood for hours so bravely and
fought so nobly, and were now witnessing the life-blood of
their brothers lave the field, who had already fallen before
them. Onward the savage hordes are fast rushing, plunging
their way through the clouds of smoke like so many mad-
brained demons being driven into bedlam, mounted on their
fleetest war-Jiorses, trampling over dead horses, dead troop-
ers and dead Indians, whose copper-colored, naked skin
(save that portion the breech clout covered) glistened as bril-
liant as the Chinese vermilion on their scrawny faces, painted
in such a manner that bore positive evidence of a deter-
mination to annihilate every white man that by chance
struck the buffalo trail on the Western plains.

The savage horde appear to be making this charge on a
semi-circle line, all mounted and bedecked with gew-gaws,
and heads dressed in the most costly war-bonnets, and
tricked with plumes and eagles' feathers, with war-paint on
their faces, and with carbine and spear in hand, all of which
presents not only a most horrid, but a murderous and bar-
barous spectacle, but really a life-like picture of hostile
savages, arrayed in a bold and unrelenting charge, which
resulted in a most treacherous and heart-rending massacre.

As we left the studio our lips v/ere sealed in regard to the
future course Mr. Mulvany is to pursue, and under a promise
not to mention his whereabouts, as his painting is yet unfin-
ished, and he cannot be annoyed with frequent visitors. He
is arranging a very fine engraving of his painting, the size
of which will be about 36X20 inches, and nicely framed. I
saw one of his engravings he had just finished, and must
frankly say that the intellectual features of all whom I had
personally known, could not be more clearly and effectually
set forth for the human eye to gaze upon. The eyes of " Cus-

118 SUBJUGATING

ter and Cook " looking as clear and piercing as when they
were on dress parade at Fort A. Lincoln, only a few months
before the battle. Mr. Mulvany has certainly gained artistic
repute to a very high degree, and his efforts must prove an
immense success. He has been offered twenty-five thousand
dollars for his painting alone. But we must be brief in this
account, as it is against the orders of the artist to say any-
thing special in connection with his studio, but we assume
the same right that Mr. Whitman presumed to take, and
will also produce his account of this wonderful work as it
appeared in the New York Tribune, and following this will
appear a memoriam by Judge J. S. Carvell, who was an old
citizen on the frontier at the time, and personally knew the
many good traits of Custer and the officers of s the Seventh
Cavalry.

The writer places the following productions upon these
pages to show that intense interest has been taken in
different parts of the country in regard to this important
campaign :

"CUSTER'S LAST RALLY."

BY MR. WALT WHITMAN, OF BOSTON.

I went to-day to see this just-finished painting by John
Mulvany, who has been out in far Montana on the spot at
the forts, and among the frontiersmen, soldiers and Indians,
for the last two or three years, on purpose to sketch it in
from reality, or the best that could be got of it. I sat for
over an hour before the picture, completely absorbed in the
first view. A vast canvas, I should say twenty or twenty-
two feet by twelve, all crowded, and yet not crowded, con-
veying such a vivid play of color, it takes a little time to get
used to it. There are no tricks ; there is no throwing of
shades in masses ; it is all at first painfully real, overwhelm-
ing, needs good nerves to look at it. Forty or fifty figures,
perhaps more, in full finish and detail, life-size, in the mid-
ground, with three times that number, or more, through the
rest — swarms upon swarms of savage Sioux, in their war-

THE HOSTILES. 119

T>onnets, frantic, mostly on ponies, driving through the back-
ground, through the smoke, like a hurricane of demons. A
dozen of the figures are wonderful. Altogether a Western,
autochthonic phase of America, the frontiers, culminating
typical, deadly, heroic to the uttermost; nothing in the
books like it, nothing in Homer, nothing in Shakespeare ;
more grim and sublime than either, all native, all our own,
and all a fact. A great lot of muscular, tan-faced men
brought to bay under terrible circumstances. Death a-hold
of them, yet every man undaunted, not one losing his head,
wringing out every cent of the pay before they sell their
lives.

Custer (his hair cut short) stands in the middle with
dilated eye and extended arm, aiming a huge cavalry pistol.
Captain Cook is there, partially wounded, blood on the
white handkerchief around his head, but aiming his carbine
coolly, half kneeling (his body was afterwards found close
by Custer's). The slaughtered or half-slaughtered horses,
for breastworks, make a peculiar feature. Two dead Indians,
lerculean, lie in the foreground clutching their Winchester
rifles, very characteristic. The many soldiers, their faces
and attitudes, the carbines, the broad-brimmed Western
hats, the powder smoke in puffs, the dying horses with their
rolling eyes almost human in their agony, the clouds of war-
bonneted Sioux in the background, the figures of Custer and
Cook, with, indeed, the whole scene, inexpressible, dreadful,
yet with an attraction and beauty that will remain forever
in my memory. With all its color and fierce action a cer-
tain Greek continence pervades it. A sunny sky and clear
light develop all. There is an almost entire absence of the
stock traits of European war pictures. The physiognomy
of the work is realistic and Western.

I only saw it for an hour or so ; but needs to be seen many
times — needs to be studied over and over again. I could
look on such a work at brief intervals all my life without
tiring. It is very tonic to me. Then it has an ethic pur-
pose below all, as all great art must have.

The artist said the sending of the picture abroad, prob-
ably to London, had been talked of. I advised him if it

120 SUBJUGATING

went abroad to take it to Paris. I think they might appre-
ciate it there — nay, they certainly would. Then I would,
like to show Messieur Crapeau that some things can be done
in America as well as others.

Altogether, " Custer's Last Rally " is one of the very few
attempts at deliberate artistic expression for our land and
people, on a pretty ambitious standard and programme, thai
impressed me as filling the bill.

IN MEMOEIAM.

The sun shone from an azure sky

On that eventful day,
When Custer's band of troopers bold

Rode forth in proud array ;
With their loved chieftain in command

No trooper on that field
But what would face the cannon's mouth

And life's red current yield.

The soul of chivalry was he-

He was their boast and pride ;
Ofttimes they'd heard his clarion voice

Where rolled the crimson tide.
Ofttimes they'd made the brave advance

Where gallant Custer led,
On many a blood-stained battle-ground

The legion brave had bled.

Shrill sounds the reveille once more

That balmy summer's morn,
Its echoes wake o'er hill and dale

On gentle zephyrs borne.
Each heart beats in responsive note,

Each heart beats high with glee,
For fame and country, home and friends,

And Custer's cavalry.

THE HOSTILES. 12L

"•Forward ! brave hearts !" the chieftain cried

That balmy morn in June,
" Fresh laurels gain, or cypress weave

A wreath for warrior's tomb.
Our duty calls, and life, how dear,

Will not be spent in vain
If laid down on the battle-field

Among the noble slain."

And slain they were, that gallant band,

Before the setting sun ;
Their spirits winged their mystic flight,

Their sands of life had run.
Not one was left to tell the tale—

That legion bold and brave,
Their life-blood laved the distant wilds,

They found a warrior's grave.

In numbers vast the savage horde

Bore down in fiendish rage,
And, ten to one, with leaden hail,

Did Custer's boys engage.
No earthly force could stand such odds ;

No power stem the tide.
They nobly fought as heroes do,

They fought and bled and died.

The chieftain's voice is hushed in death.

The trooper's battle-cry
No more shall make the welkin ring,

Or enemy defy.
They nobly lived and bravely died

In honor, glory, fame.
All hail ! the Seventh Cavalry,

And Custer's honored name.

My 8th, 1876. J. S. Cabvell.

The above was written immediately after receiving the*
news of the battle of the Little Big Horn.

122 SUBJUGATING

RAIN-IN- THE -FACE, THE MURDERER OF

GENERAL CUSTER.

Upon the opposite page will be seen a true portrait of
Bain-in-the-Face, the Indian that murdered General Custer.
As will be seen in the fore part of this volume, he made it
his special business to encourage all the hostiles within his
reach and hearing to rally and mass in the valley of the
Little Big Horn, under the leadership of Sitting BulL In
previous history it has been clearly shown that he murdered
Dr. Houtzinger, the veterinary surgeon of the 7th Cavalry,
and Mr. Balarian, the sutler, while out with the great
"Stanley expedition," in 1873. These murders were com-
mitted on the north side of the Yellowstone Biver, nearly
opposite the mouth of Tongue Biver, as well as opposite
Fort Keogh, in Montana Territory, while Custer with his
regiment was escorting a party of civil engineers making a
preliminary survey along the present route of the Northern
Pacific Railroad.

The record of this Indian is very clearly stated in these
pages up to the time he escaped from the guard-house at
Fort Abraham Lincoln. We have positive knowledge that
he then went deliberately and actively at work recruiting
all the warriors within his reach and influence, under prom-
ises that they certainly could either drive the " long-haired
chief'' out of the country, or annihilate him and his cavalry
entirely ; and well did he keep his word good.

There is no question about his bringing reinforcements
all the way from the southern camps and agencies of the
Cheyennes, Arrappahoes, Kiowas and Comanches, all then
located south of the southern boundary line of Kansas, aside
from the recruiting that was done at the different camps and
agencies in the whole Northwest ; and if Mr. Belknap, then
Secretary of War, had paid less attention to his petty post-
trading business, and tried to have informed himself in rela-
tion to the movements of the hostile Indians on the western
plains, and went to work to help organize the Fort Lincoln
column of troops, and starting it out at the proper time and

RAIN-IN-THE-FACE.

THE MURDEREB OF GENERAL CUSTBB.

THE HOSTILES. 123

"without such great delay — and for no other purpose, only to
give vent to his own personal spite against Custer, and to
humiliate him in an official manner, just because he could do
it, and on no other ground whatever only than " might makes
light " — if he had paid any attention whatever to the move-
ments of those southern Indians, and allowed General Terry
to have moved at the proper time, there can be no doubt as
to the result of that campaign. Custer with his three hundred
men (most of whom would have been living to-day), and the
Lincoln column, under General Terry, would have started
at least one month earlier, and the southern warriors could
not have arrived in time to have taken part in the battle.

The writer knows whereof he speaks, because he was well
and truly advised, as well as other western men, when the
southern warriors crossed the Black Hills trail about one
hundred miles north and east of Deadwood, and he also held
communication, in private business matters, with Crook City
and Deadwood every few days during that entire season ;
hence we claim to have' had the best of facilities for obtain-
ing facts concerning the movements of war-parties in that
particular section of the country. Bain-in-the-Face remained
with Sitting Bull most of the time after the Custer battle,
and a greater portion of the time across the northern bound-
ary line, but not as a distinguished chief or leader, further
than the credit allowed him for rallying the Indian forces to
meet Custer in such a short space of time, knowing very
well that Custer was being kept back at Washington on the
Belknap impeachment case, and he shrewdly seized this
only opportunity to rally such a tremendous strong force, all
of whom he knew to be veterans, anxious and blood-thirsty
warriors. The Indians report him as not caring to go on the
war-path since his retenge on Custer. During the fall of
1880, while he was out on a buffalo hunt and mounting his
horse, his gun was accidentally discharged, the ball taking
effect in one of his knees, taking the cap of his knee entirely
off, thus disabling him from active field service, and it is
supposed that he surrendered much sooner on this account
than he otherwise would have done had he not been crippled
for life. During the winter of 1880-'81, the tribes he was

124 SUBJUGATING

with became disheartened, as others had before and since,,
and finally came in to " Fort Keogh," and made a final sur-
render. Some mischief-maker succeeded in making him be-
lieve that the United States Court was about to have him
arrested and tried for murder, and that he would no doubt
be hung. This proved to be a source of great annoyance to
him for many months, but the officers in charge of him soon
set aside his fears by informing him that he would be treated
as a prisoner of war. Early in the spring of '81 he was
taken to the Standing Bock, where he remains quiet and
harmless. He is 32 years of age, and has a round and strong
healthy look, as will be seen by his portrait. It is quite
probable he will not give the white people any more trouble
farther than the issuing of the ten days' ration and his annu-
ity goods twice each year, as is the custom. He is com-
pelled to use a crutch when he walks, and no danger need
be apprehended from him further than his secret counsel
and influence might go among discontented warriors about
to take the war-path, which will amount to but very little,
as he cannot take an active part himself.

THE HOSTILES. 125

EETEOSPECTITE.

A brief, fragmentary sketch of the history and personnel
of the principal tribes who have been introduced to the
Teader in the foregoing pages, may well serve as an appen-
dix to this volume.

The country on the Washita River and in and about the
Wichita Mountains, as well as along the Canadian Eiver, is
highly fertile and capable of sustaining a large population.
The scenery is beautiful and the climate delightful The
winters are mild and short ; grass is plentiful for the suste-
nance of stock; timber is abundant; and the surrounding
country at Wichita Mountains is well watered and unsur-
passed for salubrity.

The Wichitas were once a very numerous and warlike
people, inhabiting the Wichita Mountains from time imme-
morial Remains of their ancient villages and fortifications
are yet plainly to be traced in this locality. They claim to
have once held dominion over a very large extent of coun-
try, from the junction of the Wichita (now Washita), with
Red River, and extending westward to a line running due
south from the headwaters of the Canadian to Red River.
Their principal village was situated near the head of Rush
Creek, a tributary of the Wichita, or Washita, where they
lived for many years in peace and comparative comfort,
raising abundant corn and vegetables, plentifully supplied
with buffalo meat, and deriving a profitable income from
trade with the Comanches of bows and arrows, for mules,
horses and buffalo robes. In 1834 their village was removed
to Cache Creek, in the Wichita Mountains, where for many
years they remained undisturbed. These mountains are
more properly peaks, surrounded by rich valleys, covered
with luxuriant grasses and abounding in mineral wealth;
buffalo, deer, antelope, bear, turkeys, grouse, quails and
small game are plentiful Altogether a country better
adapted to supply the physical wants of men and animals

126 SUBJUGATING

could not be found anywhere ; and here dwelt for many
years these untaught children of nature, at peace with the
world and with each other.

In the year 1858 they became involved in difficulties with
the Comanches, a wild, roving tribe of the plains, and
through fear of them abandoned their pleasant village, never
to return, and sought refuge and protection near Fort Ar-
buckle, leading an unsettled life, until a few years previous
to the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, when they
were located near Fort Cobb. At the opening of the civil
war they were again compelled to abandon their homes
and remove to Kansas, remaining loyal to the government
during the four years' conflict. After the close of the war
they were returned to Fort Cobb, decimated by disease and
hardships, and destitute of everything save the scanty sup-
plies furnished them by the government. Dispirited, and
despairing of ever again regaining their beautiful homes in
the Wichita Mountains, where the bones of their ancestry
had slumbered for ages, or of obtaining compensation for
the loss of their lands or reward for their loyalty, they were
unwilling to again improve their homes, until assured that
they should remain in peaceable possession of them.

Gen. W. B. Hazen, then Colonel of the 6th U. S. Infantry,
was. in charge of the wild tribes by appointment of General
Sherman, who had great confidence in his ability as an
executive and administrative officer, and it may well be said
that CoL Hazen justified the confidence of his superior offi-
cer by proving himself efficient in every position that he
held in the Indian Department. To him the discouraged
Wichitas appealed for the justice that was the meed of their
industry, thrift, and devotion to the government. To the
Cheyennes, Kiowas, Comanches and Apaches, wild tribes of
the plains, had been given land, and large sums of money
were annually expended upon them.

The Wichitas, of whom Gen. Hazen speaks as a peaceable
and deserving band of Indians, had been given no land at
all, and were there merely by sufferance, while the beautiful
country to whose river and mountain they had given their
own name, was in the possession of alien tribes.

THE HOSTILES. 127

Previous to this time the aimless policy of the govern-
ment toward the wild Indians had begun to assume definite
shape, and a marked change for the better became apparent
in the management of Indian affairs.

During the summer of 1866, before the Union Pacific
Railroad was built, Gen. Hazen was crossing the plains in
an ambulance, and while riding along, giving some thought
to the unsettled condition of Indian affairs, a plan suggested
itself to him which was afterward approved by General
Sherman. It was to allot a given amount of land to each
tribe and compel them to live upon it ; to feed them and
build houses for them ; to provide school-houses and teach-
ers ; to furnish agricultural implements ; to teach them hus-
bandry, and otherwise care for them until they should be-
come self-sustaining. It was at Gen. Hazen 7 s suggestion
that the wild tribes were sent south of the Arkansas River
to locate on reservations. The Kiowas, Comanches, Chey-
ennes and Arrapahoes then resided on the Arkansas and
Smokey Rivers, ranging as far north as the Platte.

In a council of the warriors held near Fort Dodge, Kan-
sas, the war chiefs agreed to settle upon a reservation, but
declared that they would not go unless they could have
some one with whom they were acquainted to go with them
to act a3 their agent. General Hazen at once sent for Colo-
nel A. G. Boone, who had had many years of experience
among wild tribes. The Indians consented to go if Colonel
Boone would go with them. Their agency was then located
near the base of the Wichita Mountains, about thirty miles
north of the northern boundary line of Texas, and here the
Kiowas and Comanches were finally settled, their new
camps being called "Medicine Bluffs," and was generally
known among the Indians as " Medicine Lodge Creek."

The Cheyennes and Arrapahoes were located south of the
Arkansas River, near the North Canadian — a fine location
for a reservation, there being plenty of wood, water and
grass.

These warriors subsequently proved troublesome ; so
much so that a military post, called Fort Reno, was estab-
lished there. The Indians in this section of the country

128 SUBJUGATING

Lave given the government much trouble, together with the
wild Apaches, who mostly roam in New Mexico and Old
Mexico.

In the meantime, Generals Sherman and Sheridan were
active in their respective duties in trying to bring about a
peaceful result that would be satisfactory to the general
government and beneficial to the Indians. General Hazen
and Colonel Boone were encouraged and supported in every
manner possible within the compass of the offices of these
two worthy military chiefs. Their presence had a good
moral effect upon the Indians. The Indian chiefs well knew
their power and influence. They respected them as brave
soldiers — a characteristic of war chiefs. They named
General Sherman, " the Big-White-Chief," and General
Sheridan, " The-Little-Big-Short-Chief-that-Eides-Fast "—
in reference to his famous twenty-mile-ride into Winchester,
known in history and poetry as " Sheridan's Bide." And
they well knew the famous black horse on which he then
xode, as he rode the same horse seventy-five miles across
the prairie in a single night, in order to catch them nap-
ping, before daybreak in the morning. The war-chiefs often
made kind inquiries after Sheridan, saying he was a brave
soldier and a "heap-good-man." Occasionally one would
-call him " Big-Hear t-with-a-Fast-Horse."

Sheridan's plan with Indians determined to go on the
war-path was invariably, " surround them and thrash them
soundly " — but treat them well and kindly while they re-
main on their reservations and behave themselves.

General Sheridan is acknowledged by Western men to be
not merely a good Indian fighter, but a good administration
man in military affairs generally in the Western country.
His immediate subordinate, General Alfred H. Terry, com-
manding the Department of Dakota, is deserving of great
credit for his management of the wild tribes in the North-
west. He is a man of superior executive ability, and his
honor and fidelity cannot be questioned.

Colonel Boone has since held various honorable posi-
e tions in the Interior Department, and has been employed
in making treaties with some of the wild tribes who are
located further north than those above mentioned.

THE HOSTTLES. 129

His course of conduct among wild Indians has always
been that of pacification, his mode of treatment kind, and
his rules and regulations very strict and impartial His
health has now in great measure failed, and the Interior
Department has lost a valuable servant. His. son-in-law,
Lieut. -Colonel Elmer Otis, of the 7th 'Cavalry (Custer's for-
mer position), is one of the most valuable and popular offi-
cers on the frontier.

The complications arising among the military officers in
the Southern Indian District, in consequence of the famous
" Battle of the Washita," are part of the history of the coun-
try, and need not be here recapitulated. The military ope-
rations in the Southwest, during 1368 and 1869, have been
recorded at length in " Custer's Life on the Plains," which
is still further supplemented by a pamphlet entitled, " Some
Corrections of Life on the Plains," issued by General Hazen
in 1875.

To recount the history of military campaigns against these
wild tribes, has not entered into the plan of this volume,
whose object has been rather to give to the reader a cursoiy
but correct view of the character and status of the Indians
involved. At that date peace councils were in the ascend-
ancy in Indian affairs, and General Hazen had been assigned,
in the autumn of 1868, in the interest of the Peace Commis-
sion, to the charge of all the wild Indians south of Kansas,
comprising then the tribes above mentioned.

General Hazen made an eloquent appeal to the govern-
ment for the restoration of their rights to the displaced
Wichitas, but the return of their lands was found to be im-
possible, and they were provided for elsewhere.

General Hazen and Colonel Boone were both remarkably
successful in their treatment of the Indians and in their
schemes for their welfare, so far as they were permitted to
extend their authority. But at this juncture a new admin-
istration came into power, and with the dawn of Grantism
went out much that was calculated to improve and elevate
the Indian.

Little attention was paid to the qualifications, energy or
trustworthiness of the incumbents of offices. Boom had to

130 SUBJUGATING

be made for a new set of officers, whether competent or in-
competent, hence the agencies were turned over to a new
class of men. It is proper to state, however, that many of
the in-coming men made very good and efficient agents. It
is proper to place proper credit where it belongs, and do
injustice to no one. The Indians, however, became very
uneasy, and greatly dissatisfied, at this change in their
agents. They had become acquainted with General Hazen
and Colonel Boone, and their administration had proved
satisfactory to them, and this change no doubt led to the
raids that were made into Texas during the following year.
The new agents were good men enough, but the Indians
were bound to become discontented at any frivolous reason
that presented itself. So far as learned, it appears that
when changes were to be made at Indian agencies, they were
made with a sweeping hand, regardless of future conse-
quences, and without any respect whatever to the qualifica-
tions and behavior of the previous occupants. It seems that
no more respect was shown to the occupants, than was
shown by ex-Secretary of War Belknap to post traders, when
he made his raid upon them, regardless of the trouble that
might arise from such summary proceedings, among them-
selves and their creditors generally.

Orders were issued by the parties in power, just because
they had the power to issue them, and for no other reason,
as it has been clearly demonstrated that the question of
right or wrong did not enter into their calculations at all

Such conduct on the part of the high official^ of the
country of course had its demoralizing effect upon the army
officials throughout the West. They could not, conse-
quently, look up to their leading civil officers with any feel-
ing of respect, knowing, as they did, that they were degrad-
ing their offices, and assigning them to duties that were
designed but to aid in their cwn peculations.

The Indians, of course, were but too well advised in re-
gard to Belknap's sweeping orders among traders, as it
drove away many who for years had been trading honorably
among them. Some of the wily chiefs and warriors had
named the Secretary of War " The-Heap-Big-Steal-'em-

THE HOSTILE& 131

Chief." "He no good; he steal 'em all," was a frequent
ejaculation. Thus, even the Indians shared with the brave
little army of the frontier in the demoralizing effects of the
short-sighted policy of the War Department, and divided
with its officers the contempt with which they regarded the
selfish, dishonest head of the War Department. Indians,
as a rule, are shrewd traders, especially when they have an
equal chance with white men. In those days they would
nick-name the trader "Steal-Chief," on account of his hold-
ing his appointment under Belknap.

No less demoralized were the Indians in the Northwest,
particularly along the Upper Missouri, when President
Grant made his tyrannical orders and changes. Old Indian
traders of good standing were removed without cause, and
for no reason but to make room for a lot of petty politicians
from Philadelphia, who were merely subordinates to aid
Orville Grant, a brother of the President, in his unhallowed
schemes of legalized plunder.

Indian reservations were extended regardless of the pro-
tests of old settlers and squatters, whose rights were utterly
ignored — all for no other purpose than to increase the do-
main and, consequently, the profits of the newly-appointed
trader.

If an old trader was allowed to hold his position at all,
it was in consideration of paying the newly-appointed trader
a stipulated sum. When first approached for negotiations
upon the subject, the newly-appointed trader would invari-
ably say, " We will see Orville Grant about it ; you know
he fixes things."

Such open dishonesty on the part of the high officials of
the nation naturally had a very great tendency to demoral-
ize the already discontented and half-tamed warriors.
Small wonder, then, that they demanded of the government
better treatment for themselves. Nor was it to be wondered
at that they often made declarations and direct charges
against the whites that their hunting-grounds and buffalo
were being stolen, and dishonest traders forced upon them,
to rob their squaws and papooses in the regular way of
trade. There is no question in regard to the Indians losing

132 SUBJUGATING

what little confidence they ever did have in the general
government, after these high-handfcd operations in and
about their agencies.

More than one warrior became disgusted with this pre-
viously unheard-of management, and left his tepee in charge
of the old men and women, and took to flight on his fleet
pony to join Sitting Bull's camp. There is no doubt among
Western men, who are well informed in frontier matters,
that this disgraceful management was the cause of swelling
Sitting Bull's ranks in the campaign of 1876, so well known
throughout the country as " Custer's last battle."

The evil results of the example of such unprincipled deal-
ing on the part of the government before the eyes of the
savages were greatly to be deplored. The Indians had
always been promised good treatment and fair dealing in
trade, if they would leave the war-path, forsake their wild
habits, and become a good and peaceful people. The author
does not pretend to say that the Indians were in the least
justifiable in going on the war-path on account of the bad
treatment received from the high and dignified officials of
the land, yet it is a fact beyond question, that the average
Indian is very sensitive in regard to the treatment he
receives, his mind being quite clear upon subjects with
which he is acquainted, and his only recourse against injust-
ice, or what he may consider dishonest or unfair treatment
on the part of the whites, is to go on the war-path and seek
revenge in bloodshed for his real or fancied wrongs, just as
Bain-in-the-Face joined the hostile forces of Sitting Bull, to
avenge his treatment at the hands of General Custer, in
being arrested and held a prisoner in the post guard-house
at Fort A. Lincoln, during the winter of 1875, not many
months before Custer's last battle. Bevenge for wrongs in-
flicted upon himself or his race, is the first article in the
Indian's moral creed, hence it is fair to presume that he will
carry a revengeful spirit in his bosom, until its consuming
fires are quenched by a higher civilizing influence than any
yet applied to him, and until he is thoroughly subjugated
and made to obey the laws and regulations of our common
rulers.

THE HOSTELES. 133

Since the last administration came into power in 1877,
there has been a decided improvement in Indian affairs, and
the Indians themselves report progress among their respec-
tive tribes in a measure beyond their anticipation.

One cause of this marked change for the better is attribu-
table to the non-interference of the President with the Sec-
retary of the Interior. Another is found in the fact that
Secretary Schurz, while faithful to all the several divisions
of his department, gave to the Indian service his special
attention. His eminent services in the West, and through-
out the Indian country are highly appreciated by the best
class of citizens, and also by those highly competent judges
of human nature, the Indians themselves, some of whom
were on the war-path only a few years ago, and some but a
few months ago. It is to be hoped the present administra-
tion will adopt the same line of policy and continue it on
the same plan as that laid down by the one just closed. It
is the general belief in the circle of business men who are
more or less interested in Indian matters, that Secretary
Schurz has proved himself a most admirable statesman, and
is entitled to great credit from all parties, as well as to the
hearty thanks of the nation at large for his efficient admin-
istration of the most difficult department of the government.
In 1872 it was this same Carl Schurz who had the " audacity
and impudence," as it was then called, to break ranks from
the administrative party then in power, and take the stump
throughout the country, to state the facts in regard to the
frauds and mismanagements that then generally prevailed
throughout the different departments of the government.

He was bitterly denounced for so doing by certain officials
who still clung to the Belknap idea of " Rule or Ruin," and
was hissed at as a backslider from the Republican party,
and a demoralizer of good government; but, four years
later, the truth of his accusations stood revealed, and a Re-
publican President placed him in charge of one of the most
important departments of our government, " The Depart-
ment of the Interior." His official career closed on the 4th
of March, 1881, with honor to himself and great credit to
the administration, whose schemes of reform he had so
largely aided. The Indians especially regarded him with

134 SUBJUGATING

favor. In their own language they styled him, " The-heap-
good-white-Chief," and were often heard to say, that they
wished he could remain longer in charge of their affairs. It
it true that Secretary Schurz did not at all times move har-
moniously with the military officials, but the author believes
he is correct in saying that the general management of the
government business and operations by both the Military
and Interior Departments on the frontier has been, in gen-
eral, satisfactory in its final results. The small army assign-
ed to the protection of the frontier is mostly composed of
veterans, and commanded by skilled and conscientious offi-
cers, as the country is well aware. Well-advised border
men are unanimously of the opinion that by the discreet and
thoughtful management of the latter, settlers and immi-
grants are now quite safe from attacks by marauding bands
of hostile Indians.

From the first origin of the government the Indian prob-
lem has puzzled the wisest heads of the nation, nor has a
correct solution of the difficult question been yet arrived at.
It is doubtful if it can be settled in the present generation,
although the efforts of philanthropists and humanitarians
throughout the country, in conjunction with the powerful
machinery of the United States government, are put forth
constantly to that end.

The author has not presumed to propose a remedy for ex-
isting ills, but if he has in these pages thrown any light upon
the vexed question, if, from the impressions made upon his
mind during long residence among this " peculiar people,"
and thoughtful observation of their habits and character, as
recorded in this unpretending volume, or if he has added
anything to the popular knowledge of these " nomads of the
plains," or shed any light upon their feelings and situation,
by which to indicate a more enlightened treatment of these
unhappy people in the future, then is his mission as an
author accomplished.

In closing this work, we must express bur kind thanks to
Professor O. S. Goff, at Bismarck, D. T., for his promptness
in placing in our hands the photo of " Chief Sitting Bull "
in time for this edition, as it not only enables the writer to
keep his promise made elsewhere, but the readers get full

THE HOSTTLES. 135

as good a likeness, and the features and general expression
Are even better than we expected to get, on account of the
sullenness of the old chief since his surrender. But we are
Teally entitled to the best that could be taken, as he charged
an even one hundred dollars for the negative. So it ap-
pears that the chief intends to make his face pay him dol-
lars, as well as his words and big talk. He charges two
dollars apiece for writing his autograph for men and boys,
but writes it free of charge for the ladies. Little did the
old chief think while in the hands of Professor Goff at
" Standing Rock Agency," that his photo would be in the
hands of an engraver in New York City within the space of
four days.

The author now begs leave to call special attention to the
contents of his next book, as appears on the following pages,
entitled, " The "Western Blue Book ; or, Scenes of Savage
Life," which will be ready about the first of October.
44 The Blue Book " will give a panoramic and dramatic view
of our military operating against the hostiles, all the way
from the wild Apache camps in Old Mexico to the fastnesses
in the woody mountains in the North ; and it is our aim to
give a faithful portrayal of actual scenes of our modern In-
dian warfare, as has been carried on against the various
tribes all along our Western frontier ; also in regard to the
treatment and management of the leading war-chiefs, after
they have either been captured by our forces or themselves
surrendered.

The author has had fourteen years of continuous experi-
ence among the military and untamed savages on the frontier,
and feels quite competent to do even justice to both subjects
and readers, and very confidently claims in advance of pub-
lication that " Fanatanza " and " Col. La Raine " will be two
of the best productions of the kind that have ever been placed
before the American people. The author most respectfully
asks you to read the " Blue Book," and give your opinion
without fear or favor. Nicely bound in blue cloth, 16mo,
$1.50, and will be for sale by wholesale booksellers gene-
rally; also news-agents and canvassers throughout the
country. For particulars address " The Author," P. O. Box
87, Brooklyn, N. T.

136

CONTENTS

OP

«r

THE WESTERN BLUE BOOK."

SECTION I.

Fanatanza; A Sketch of Savage Life.

Chapteb I. — A Quiet Home in Texas Raided by a Band

of Apache Warriors.

Chapteb II. — Return of the Warriors, and a Pow-Wow

over the Capture* of Mrs. Sparks.

Chapteb III. — The Wild Apache Chief with Mrs. Sparks

and his Red Wife.

Chapteb TV. — Warriors Return from a Raid into Old Mex-
ico with Fanatanza.— The Murder of
Mrs. Sparks.

Chapteb V; — General Van Couvnor's Headquarters at

Fort Washita.

Chapteb VI. — Three Kiowa Chiefs Engaged to help Ran-
som " Fanatanza."

Chapteb VII. — The Chiefs Return to General Van Couvnor

at Fort Washita.

Chapteb VEIL — California John warns Genera* Van Couv-
nor of the Situation.

137

Chapter IK. — General Van Couvnor takes the Field.
Chapter X. — Fanatanza Surrendered by the Wild Apache

Chief.
Chapter XL — Correspondent of the Eastern Press Arrives

at Fort Washita.
Chapter XIL — Kiowa Chiefs Demand Money in Advance

for the Ransom of Fanatanza.
Chapter XEEL — Walker's Trading Store among the Wild

Kiowas and Comanches, in the Wichita

Mountains.
Chapter XTV. — General Van Couvnor Receives Fanatanza.

The Wild Apache Chief Highly Amused

at the " Round Dance."

section n.

Court Scene at an Indian Agency.

Chapter L — A Quaker Agent sits as Chief Justice.
Chapter LL — Appendix to the Court Scene at a Kiowa.

Agency.

SECTION in.

Right op Way to the Gold Fields; or, A Female Lobbyist

in Washington.

»•

Chapter L — Office of the Midland Pacific Railroad —

President and Directors' Room.

Chapter IL — After Dinner. — Arrival of the Lobbyists

and the leading Chiefs of the Indian
Reservation.

Chapter ILL — Hotel de Villa in Washington.

138

SECTION IV.

Col. La Eaine ; or, The Warrior's Revenge.

Chapter I. — General Waldstien, Commanding the North-
west, Headquarters in St. Paul.

Chapter II. — Scene near Pompey's Pillar, on the Yel-
lowstone.

Chapter HE. — An Indian Dance and Grand Pow-Wow at

Standing Rock Agency, "Wild Eagle the
Centre Figure.

Chapter IV. — Col. La Raine Sends a Troop of Cavalry

to Capture Wild Eagle.

Chapter V. — Capture of Wild Eagle, the Murderer of

Col. La Raine.

Chapter VI. — Col. La Raine Receives Wild Eagle at

Fort Stonewall.

Chapter VEL — Friends of Wild Eagle Visit Him while in

the Guard-house ; Medicine-Man Inter-
cedes.

Chapter VTII. — Grain Thieves Escape ; also the Revenge-
ful Warrior.

Chapter IX. — Col. La Raine Receives the Report from

the Guard-house.

Chapter X. — Walker's Trading Establishment, near Fort

Stonewall, on the Missouri River.

Chapter XL — Officers' Club-room at Fort Stonewall ; the

Day before Col. La Raine takes the
Field.

Chapter XTT. — Col. La Raine's Headquarters, within

Three Hours' March of Sitting Bull's
Village.

Chapter XDX — Col. La Raine's last Sleep, the Night be-
fore his last Battle with Sitting Bull.

Chapter XIV. — His last Battle and the lost Battle-field.

139
SECTION V.

Genebal Waldstten; or, the Surrender of Crow King,
Chief Warrior of Sitting Bull's Tribes.

Chapter L — Headquarters of General Waldstien, at

Fort Buford.

Chapter EL — The General in the Field ; Crow King Sur-
renders.

Chapter IIL — Trader's Store at Fort Buford.

Chapter IV. — Crow King makes his formal Surrender, and

has a Peace Dance.

ti

NOTICE AGAINST PIRATING."

The Author is informed that certain parties are about to
Kt pirate and dramatize " certain sections of the above con-
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lie will prosecute any buccaneer who infringes upon his
copyright, to the full extent of the law, as all his produc-
tions are copyrighted according to act of Congress.

1873.

1881.

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QouAsellMT-aA-Xja'vr

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INTEREST ALLOWED ON TIME DEPOSITS.

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